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The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office issued a news release on Thursday regarding the arrest of an Asbury Park man in connection with a shooting on Wednesday night in the western section of the city.

Asbury Park police earlier on Thursday had named James Scott as the suspect, the Sun previously reported.

The following is the full text of the Prosecutor’s release concerning the allegations, arrest and charges:

An Asbury Park man has been arrested and charged with shooting another city man Wednesday evening, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

James T. Scott, 24, of the 200 block of Deal Lake Drive in Asbury Park, is charged with first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun.

Asbury Park police responded to the area of Mattison and Elizabeth avenues around 10:24 p.m. based upon reports of gunfire. Police arrived to find a 33-year-old man with a single gunshot wound to the hip. He was taken to an area hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and city police revealed the 33-year-old man was walking in the area of Mattison and Elizabeth avenues when a dark-colored vehicle pulled up and Scott exited the vehicle brandishing a handgun – firing one shot, striking the victim in the hip.

Scott was arrested Thursday and is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $600,000 bail with no option to post 10 percent as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Detective Edwin Hennelly, of this Office, at 1-880-533-7443 or Detective Darius Davis, of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

If convicted of Attempted Murder, Scott faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (“NERA”). “NERA” requires that a defendant serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for parole. If convicted of the weapons offenses, Scott faces up to ten years in prison on each charge subject to a mandatory minimum of 1/3 of the sentence imposed or three years, whichever is greater, without parole.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker.

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