An area man has been charged with reckless manslaughter as a result of a shooting in Freehold Borough on Sunday night, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Tuesday.

Efrain Cruz Jr., 45, of Freehold Borough, was charged with second-degree manslaughter after recklessly handling a firearm, which subsequently discharged, hitting an adult male victim during a small gathering.

At 8:32 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, Freehold Borough police were dispatched the 20 block of McDermott Street for a report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, the victim was discovered with a single gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Cruz Jr. is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute (MCCI) pending a detention hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443 or Freehold Borough Detective Samuel Hernandez at 732-462-1233.

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