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A Neptune Township teen was arrested and charged Thursday for his role in the shooting death of a child and wounding of the victim’s mother in Asbury Park overnight, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The juvenile is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The 16-year old juvenile was arrested at Neptune High School this morning without incident, according to news statement.

The Prosecutor’s Office alerted both the school and the district to the impending arrest, officials said. Due to school protocols, Neptune High School was briefly in a lockdown status following the arrest.

Asbury Park police responded to a 911 call near 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday of shots fired at a home in the 400 block of Ridge Avenue.  Police arrived to find the 10-year old boy and his 39-year old mother struck by gunfire. The child’s mother was treated and released for her injuries, however the child was pronounced dead at 11:18 p.m, officials said. 

A joint investigation is being conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department with assistance from Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Neptune Township Police Department.

At this point in the investigation, it appears that neither the 10-year old child nor his mother were the intended victims of this shooting, officials said.  The intended target was another occupant also present within the home.

Investigators are seeking the assistance of the public to identify other(s) who may have been involved in this criminal conspiracy. Anyone with information should call Det Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Det Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.

Anyone wanting to remain anonymous can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential tip-line at 1-800-671-4400; text “MONMOUTH” plus the tip to 274637; or, email via monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.  Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner.

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