Two people involved in a road-rage incident that culminated in a shooting last month have been arrested and charged with attempted murder and related charges, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Thursday.

Keyshawn J. Palmer, 29, of Freehold Township and Chyna R. Edwards, 22, of Tinton Falls, have both been charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and two related second-degree weapons offenses.

Palmer was also charged with fourth-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm. Edwards was also charged with second-degree aggravated assault.

The case background …

Shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan.14, members of the Ocean Township police responded to the area of Wickapecko Drive and Sunset Avenue on a report of a discharged firearm. There they encountered an adult female who reported that an adult male acquaintance had been shot in the leg moments earlier and was en route to a local hospital for treatment.

An investigation involving members of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau and the Ocean Township Police Department revealed that the incident began on Route 35 in Eatontown, when the female victim inadvertently cut off a vehicle being driven by Edwards, with Palmer in the passenger seat.

Edwards then allegedly followed the woman through several towns before colliding with her vehicle not far from the scene of the shooting. The male victim, having been contacted by the female victim, arrived in the area moments later, prompting a verbal dispute, at which time Palmer allegedly fired a handgun at him, striking him in the leg. Palmer and Edwards fled the scene.

The investigation ultimately led to the pair being identified as suspects in the case, and they turned themselves in to authorities without incident on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

They were then held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) to await an initial appearance and detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.

A search of the vehicle being driven by Edwards on the night of the incident, a Nissan Sentra, also produced a .380-caliber handgun.  

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

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