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The day after a 15-year-old girl was shot in the leg on Washington Avenue in Asbury Park, authorities have arrested and charged a male neighbor with the crime, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Friday evening.

Josiphiah Fowlkes, 22, of Washington Avenue is charged with first degree attempted murder, two counts of the second degree unlawful possession of a handgun, the second degree possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose, second degree being a certain person not to possess a weapon [based upon a qualifying prior conviction], and the third degree crime of being in receipt of stolen property.

The shooting occurred near 11:05 p.m. Wednesday in front of a neighboring Washington Avenue home, officials have said.

The Asbury Park Police patrols were in the area when they heard several gunshots, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Spokesman Charlie Webster said. Officers arrived at the Washington Village Apartment Complex, where they located the 15-year-old female with a gunshot wound to the leg. A vehicle located in a driveway and a Washington Village security booth were struck by the gunfire.

Webster said the victim has since been released from the hospital where she was taken for treatment following the shooting.

Law enforcement officers who made contact with Fowlkes Thursday, discovered that he was in possession of a stolen handgun. As a result, he was taken into custody.

Webster said if convicted of the attempted murder, Fowlkes faces an up to 20 year prison sentence, subject to the No Early Release Act [NERA] provisions that requires an 85 percent incarceration period before being eligible for release on parole.

The second degree crimes come with an up to 10 year sentence, subject to the Graves Act which requires a mandatory minimum of one-third of the sentence or 3.5 year period.

The certain person’s charge comes with an up to 10 year prison sentence, subject to a mandatory minimum of 5 years before parole, Webster said.

If convicted of the third degree being in receipt of stolen property, Fowlkes faces up to five years.

Anyone with information pertaining to the case can contact  Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective John Leibfried at 800-533-7443 or Detective Steven Ramseur of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers via 1-800-671-4400 or text “MONMOUTH” with the tip to 274637 [CRIMES].

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau.

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