Prosecutor Sets Record Straight on Rumson Shooting

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Responsibility Unit (PRU) and Major Crimes Bureau (MCB) are investigating the circumstances behind a police-involved shooting that took place in Rumson early this morning, Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.

“We have become aware of a degree of misinformation about this incident that has been circulating on social media and online, and we urge the public and the media to avoid speculation until this investigation has determined the relevant facts with certainty,” Prosecutor Santiago said. “I have every confidence that the detectives from our Professional Responsibility Unit and Major Crimes Bureau will continue to investigate this incident in a meticulous and objective manner. More information about this incident will be released as it becomes available.”

The individual who was shot, a 27-year-old male resident of Newark, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. His identity is not being released at this time.

According to the preliminary investigation, just before 4:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, Rumson police and the police from departments of neighboring towns were dispatched to the area of Avenue of Two Rivers South and Shrewsbury Drive on a report of suspected burglaries in the area.

During the police response and investigation into the call, a Fair Haven police officer encountered two suspects in a moving vehicle. During that interaction, that officer fired his service weapon, striking one of the occupants.

The officer who discharged his firearm was not injured, but was also taken to a local hospital as a precaution. The NJ State PBA had tweeted that an Rumson officer had been injured and was recovering at a local hospital. It said, in part, “Our officer involved in the overnight incident in Rumson is recovering at the hospital.” That post has since been removed from X.

This investigation is being conducted in strict adherence to New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Law Enforcement Directive No. 2019-4, Ensuring the Independent Investigation of Criminal Cases Involving Police Use-of-Force or In-Custody Deaths. Anyone with information about this incident is being asked to contact PRU Detective Joseph Pahopin or MCB Detective Michael Donovan at 800-533-7443.

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