Gunshot injures Toms River teen

A gunshot during an apparent  midafternoon robbery attempt Tuesday in Toms River leaves a 19-year-old injured and prompts an intensive search for the gunman. Police are asking witnesses to step up.

Officers who responded to several calls about gunfire arrived at Winteringham Village on Route 166 at about 3:09 PM, authorities said. Several people reported hearing a gunshot, but no evidence or suspects were found, police said.

Shortly afterward, the teen entered Community Medical Center on Route 37, for treatment of a gunshot wound in his shoulder.

Police said he related being accosted in the Winteringham Village lot by a man brandishing a handgun, who fired the shot during what seemed to be a robbery attempt, then ran off.

Police called the wound non-life-threatening. The teen was transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and was listed in stable condition.

"We are in the process of identifying a suspect or suspects and ask the public to contact us with any information that they may have," said department spokesman Ralph Stocco.

Detective Roger Hull leads the probe, with support of the Toms River Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the township's emergency services unit.

Detective Hull can be reached at 732-349-0150 extension 1291.