A despondent man threatening to shoot himself at the Wawa on Route 37 west in Toms River, pulled the trigger, discharging one bullet to his head early Monday while police units were on the scene, according to Ocean County authorities.

Photo by Laurie Cataldo
Photo by Laurie Cataldo
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The Seaside Heights 30-year-old remained in critical condition late this morning.

According to information from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Toms River police responded at about 10:52 PM to a call from his wife. She reported that they had entered the lot at 1600 Route 37 West and parked, that he was despondent, and was threatening suicide with a long-barreled weapon.

Toms River police cordoned off the area where the car was parked. The woman left the car shortly after a detective began negotiating with him, authorities said.

Protracted talks continued until about 2:15 AM, when the individual fired his weapon. AFter officers on scene applied first aid, he was first rushed to Community Medical Center in Toms River, then to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, authorities said.

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