JACKSON – A Jackson resident sustained non-life threatening injuries when he was shot in the face during an attempted armed robbery on South New Prospect Road.
Jackson Police Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said the incident occurred shortly after the man left a bar in Brook Plaza at about 2 a.m. Aug. 13. Police did not release the man’s name or age.
Police said the man was walking through the shopping center’s rear parking lot near a gas station on West County Line Road when he was approached by a man riding a bicycle and wielding a knife.
Officials said the man on the bicycle allegedly demanded money from the resident before the two began fighting. At that point a second unknown man began assaulting the resident.
Laskiewicz said the resident was on the ground during the altercation when he allegedly heard two gunshots go off near his face. Following that, the two assailants fled the scene.
The man eventually made his way home to West County Line Road just before 3 a.m. and called police. Officers found the man in his residence with a gunshot wound to his face. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of what police described as a non-life threatening injury.
Laskiewicz said that since the incident took place, police have committed patrol officers, detectives and supervisors in an attempt to locate the two assailants.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit is assisting in the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting or the possible identity of either alleged assailant is asked to contact Jackson Detective Edward Howe at 732-928-1111.