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Two young men have been charged with attempted murder following a months-long investigation into an incident that occurred in January.

Steven Lezin, 19, of Asbury Park, and Joseph Hiran Saez, 18, of Long Branch, are being charged with two counts each of attempted murder and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. The charges were filed May 7.

On Jan. 5 just before 11 p.m., a group of people was in the area of the Asbury Park Village housing complex, which is operated by the Asbury Park Housing Authority, when the police received a call saying shots had been fired in that area, Chief Mark Kinmon said.

“Our officers responded and while they were in the area, we received information that there were two gunshot victims at Jersey Shore [University Medical Center] Emergency Room,” Kinmon said.

The department also learned there was a sports utility vehicle that “had driven by, slowed down near the group and fired gunshots from the window of the SUV,” Kinmon said.

The two victims were males, ages 16 and 17. They were held overnight for observation at the hospital and then released.

When asked if the shootings were gang-related, Kinmon declined to comment, but said, “It’s clear that these two kids [the victims] were targeted.”

The department was able to develop enough information to identify the vehicle and its occupants as a result of eyewitness accounts and information gathered by its detectives and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Kinmon said.

The accused shooters are already incarcerated for unrelated charges and have not yet been served with these complaints, Kinmon said. Lezin’s bail is set at $600,000 and Saez’s is $300,000.

“This is just another good example to people that when these incidents happen, sometimes it takes longer than we all would like,” Kinmon said. “We’re just not able to develop enough information at the time that is going to warrant charging somebody, making an arrest and getting results. We don’t just throw these reports in a case folder and forget about them. Detectives work hand-in-hand with the prosecutor’s office … to develop information that’s going to bring these guys to conclusion in these cases.”

In other police activity, from May 2 through May 7 the Asbury Park Police Department made the following arrests:

• On May 2, a 60-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested for aggravated assault; unlawful possession of weapons and possession of weapons for unlawful purposes. The arrest was made in the 1700 block of Grand Avenue.

• On May 3, a 33-year-old male from Neptune was arrested for disorderly conduct and defiant trespassing. The arrest was made in Boston Way.

• On May 3, a 22-year-old female from Plainfield was arrested for manufacturing, distributing and dispensing a controlled dangerous substance in the first degree. The arrest was made in the 900 block of Bergh Street.

• On May 3, a 56-year-old male from Neptune was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The arrest was made at Main Street and Monroe Avenue.

• On May 3, a 34-year-old male from Neptune was arrested for criminal sexual contact. The arrest was made in the 100 block of Durand Road.

• On May 6, a 40-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested for driving while intoxicated and vehicular assault in the fourth degree. The arrest was made at Bond Street and Asbury Avenue.

• On May 6, a 62-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested for defiant trespass and contempt of court. The arrest was made in the 1100 block of Main Street.

• On May 5, a 23-year-old male from Eatontown was arrested for simple assault. The arrest was made in the 1500 block of Main Street.

• On May 5, a 46-year-old male from Kearny was arrested for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The arrest was made in the 200 block of Fourth Avenue.

• On May 6, a 21-year-old female from Neptune was arrested for disorderly conduct. The arrest was made in the 500 block of Asbury Avenue.

• On May 6, a 46-year-old female from Asbury Park was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The arrest was made in the Boston Way apartments.

•On May 6, a 20-year-old male from Galloway was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. The arrest was made in the 700 block of Memorial Drive.

• On May 6, a 67-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested for defiant trespass. The arrest was made in the 1100 block of Main Street.

• On May 7, a 40-year-old male from Asbury Park was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The arrest was made in the 500 block of First Avenue.

There were also numerous arrests for contempt of court in this time period.

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