UPDATED 10:15 AM: The following statement regarding this morning’s shooting was just released by Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little, who had been serving as Chief for 55 minutes when the shooting occurred.
The Toms River Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred at 12:55 AM on January 1, 2014 at the Ramada near the Lakewood border. The Toms River Police Department received a call via the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department 911 system. The unidentified caller stated there had been a shooting at the Ramada Inn located at 2373 Route 9 in Toms River. The caller stated there was a shooting victim in one of the rooms at the hotel which was later determined to be in a rear section of the hotel containing suites.
Officers Herr, Robertazzi and Pedalino were first to arrive on scene and they encountered several individuals in the area screaming and yelling. They also observed four (4) or five (5) people climbing out of a second story hotel room window onto an adjoining roof. They entered the hotel room and found one victim lying on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound. They then found a second victim in another area of the hotel room. Both victims were transported to a local trauma center.
Additional police officers from Toms River and the surrounding towns of Lakewood and Brick were dispatched to the scene as there were upwards of 30 people in the hotel and hallways and each of the rooms had to cleared for additional victims and suspects.
As officers were on scene at the Ramada Inn, the Lakewood Police Department contacted this department and advised there was another shooting victim at a hospital in Lakewood apparently driven there by private vehicle. Lt. Michael Brosnan of the department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, under the command of Captain Bruce Burgess, responded and coordinated the investigation.
As of 9: 30 a.m., one victim is still in the operating room, a second is in critical condition and the condition of the third victim is unavailable at this time.
No suspects were located at the hotel, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information regarding this incident please contact Detective Hull of the Toms River Police Department at 732-349-0150 ext 1291.
Cell phone clip of the Task Force and other emergency vehicles pulling up to the scene in Toms River.
(REPORT FROM 1:19 AM) Two people were brought into KMC moments ago with gunshot wounds, sources TLS. The victims, both men, were reportedly brought in via a private vehicle.
Sources tell TLS the victims were shot during a fight at a New Year’s Party at a Ramada hotel in Toms River.
One victim was reportedly shot in the foot, and one in the chest.
One of the victims may be airlifted, sources say.
It’s unclear at this time if there are any other victims involved.
A suspect driving a 4-door vehicle with a partial plate of ZVU, is being sought in connection with the shooting.
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Maybe they are from Tent City.
Ha tent city how original guess.it was a new year for people to act stupid smh
what a start to the new year. lets clean this town up from thugs.
U no yall (moderated) need 2 hav a heart if u aint got nutin 2 say nice keep ur comments 2 urself
Really ?? Everyone blames everything on tent city ?? First off tent city is no where near the ramada !! 2nd off clean up the town and get rid of thugs ?? Lots of you people have no heart at all .keep the ignorant comments to yourself.anyway hope all are ok and have a speedy recovery !!
Yea man. Eye noe way u meeen. Eye meeen, oll dis dreenkin n’ stuff…I kant dreenk, rite n’ hold da gun at da saim tyme
Yeah! It must be a (moderated) tradition, They always shoot & stab each other on their New Year’s Eve, you could imagine what every hospital emergency room must look like.
I agree with #4. Sometimes you just got to zip it up.
This could’ve been avoided if te the victims were carrying guns. We need more guns on the streets to combat this gun violence!
Why would you bring a gun to a party? Planned on shooting someone? What kind of party is that gonna be if you feel you need a gun.
Can we get a list of the Gangs involved?
Is there any more respect for human life anywhere in this world anymore? Crazier every day.
Geshmakalypse,
I think they need to ban illegal shootings. That way the criminals won’t shoot because it’ll be illegal. I’m sure, 100% positive, that if there was a law in NJ against shooting people at a New Years party, this shooting would not have happened.
Where are all those gun control laws when we need them most?
Geshma, you’re an idiot. More guns means more shootings and if I had to guess the victim probably had a gun. The threat of a gun doesn’t mean that there will be less shootings it means that there will be more. What world do you live in?
This wasn’t even in Lakewood why would it matter to us?
I hope all are okay. My love and prayers go out to the victims and there families. Shall we all pray to the almighty that they live long full lives and give back to the community.
Something terrible happens n everyone points fingers why dont we all STOP take a minute to pray for the individuals who are hurt, pray the people responsable are caught! MOST OF ALL PRAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS N THERE FAMILYS THAT THEY ARE SAFE WHILE WORKING this terrible sittuation.the POLICE OFFICERS R THE VICTIMS N THERE FAMILIES that need the prayers they come home SAFE!! WHO CARES WHY IT HAPPENED OR HOW we forgetting inocent people r involved (families gotta worry there love ones r safe) to all the police officers n families THANKU FOR PROTECTING US!! N WE PRAY U GO HOME SAFE EVERYNIGHT OR DAY TO UR FAMILIES !!
I hate this tent city hate we r all people stop putting the ppl w less down…#love4all…#lakewoodsgr8…#2014yearofhashtags
Chances are the victims and/or the shooter were from Lakewood, so it is relevant.
So only bad things happen to or are caused by Lakewood residents?
This is not even Lakewood. It’s Dover
Hey #20 …. All three “victims” are or were former residents of Lakewood. So why is this important to us….because we are living amongst these folks.
People talk about bull or gangs or who doin the shootin wow doit matter if it’s your kid then you wouldn’t say dum stuff !
This is a tragedy! Somehow, I feel “you live by the gun, and you will die by the gun”. It’s a lifestyle these young men and women choose. #22 , you are right. We should be made a ware because some or all of the victims/suspects, are living amongst us right now. It’s a shame that we continue to kill one another like we’re in survival mode. What happened to unity, love thy brother, respect?? 2014 is here and we need a CHANGE. When will the violence stop? Lakewood is Ridiculous.
Was LCSW called?
Its Toms River, not Lakewood. Its “their problem”.
Its borderline lakewood and people from lakewood were probably involved thats y its on lakewood scoop .what a way to start off the new year