Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Toms River 6-Year-Old, Shot By 4-Year-Old, In Stable Condition

Parents were "nearby" at McCormick Drive residence when incident occurred, Toms River police said

A Toms River 6-year-old who was shot in the head by a 4-year-old was reportedly in stable condition Tuesday, according to Toms River police. 

The shooting occurred in the McCormick Drive yard of the 4-year-old before 7 p.m. Monday, according to Toms River Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy, who said that the boy obtained a .22 caliber rifle from inside the residence. The parents were "nearby" when the incident occurred, the chief said. The mother of the 4-year-old called 911.

The 6-year-old was flown to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune with a head injury and was in stable condition, the chief said. 

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The shooting occurred in the Cedar Grove area of the township, according to Toms River schools Assistant Superintendent James Hauenstein, who received the news during a New Jersey School Boards Association meeting Monday night. 

Authorities were on scene at a McCormick Drive home Monday night and had the yard cordoned off with yellow tape. Toms River police and county vehicles remained on the scene.

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Hauenstein said that the victim is a student at Saint Joseph's Grade School. He said that Toms River schools officials will be available to provide counseling services to students at Cedar Grove Elementary and Saint Joseph's. 

Toms River Police Department Detectives Louis Santora and Roger Hull are investigating along with the Ocean County's prosecutor's office and sheriff's department, Mastronardy said. 


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