An attempted armed burglary in Tinton Falls evolved into a shots fired incident when the intended victims confronted the burglars. One man was apprehended and arrested, but a second suspect fled to a Freehold Borough apartment, triggering a call for the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Wednesday.

On Monday, Oct. 14, a Tinton Falls police officer responded to the sound of a single gunshot in the area of William Street at 1:27 p.m.  As the officer entered nearby Hance Park to investigate further, he was approached by the victims of an attempted burglary at their Peach Street residence. The victims reported that they confronted the two burglars before one of the men pulled out a handgun and fired one shot into the air.

The two burglars then ran from the park. Alix Eugene, 20, of Eatoncrest Drive in Eatontown, was arrested nearby. A second suspect, Omari Key, 18, was believed to have fled to his apartment at Spring Terrace in Freehold Borough.

The Freehold Borough Police Department responded to Key’s apartment. Key was inside the residence but refused to surrender. Freehold Borough police secured the area and requested assistance from the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT).  After a 2-hour stand-off, Key was convinced to exit the residence and apprehended without incident.

The single gunshot prompted a brief “shelter in place” warning for Brookdale Community College, in the Lincroft section of Middletown, as a measure of caution while police sorted out the situation.

Key and Eugene are charged with: second-degree conspiracy to commit armed burglary, second-degree attempted armed burglary, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. 

Key was also charged with third-degree hindering by suppressing and concealing evidence and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm.

Key and Eugene are scheduled for a detention hearing on Oct. 18, 2019.

If convicted of any of the second-degree crimes, Eugene and Key each faces a sentence of five to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison. 

If convicted of the third-degree offense, Key faces a sentence of three to five years in prison. The fourth-degree charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 18 months. 

Anyone with information important to this investigation is urged to contact Detective Ramon Camacho of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Brian Cahill of the Tinton Falls Police Department at 732-542-4423.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office