FREEHOLD — A Freehold Borough man has been charged with reckless manslaughter as a
result of a shooting that took place on the night of June 19 in Freehold Borough, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on June 21.
Efrain Cruz Jr., 45, was charged with second degree manslaughter after handling a firearm, which subsequently discharged, striking an adult male. The incident occurred during a small gathering, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
At approximately 8:32 p.m. June 19, Freehold Borough Police Department officers
were dispatched to McDermott Street to investigate a report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, the victim was discovered with a single gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation remained active and ongoing as of June 21.
Cruz is being held at the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, pending a
detention hearing before Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Monmouth County
Prosecutor’s Office Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443 or Freehold Borough Detective Samuel Hernandez at 732-462-1233.
