Neptune man charged with attempted murder in Wednesday shooting

A Neptune Township man is being charged with Attempted Murder for allegedly shooting a man in the parking lot of a box store on Route 66 Wednesday afternoon, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

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The victim in the shooting was treated at the hospital for a non-life threatening gunshot injury.

Mark Ruffin Jr., 22, faces up to 20-years in state prison if convicted of Attempted Murder subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act" which means he has to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole.

Ruffin Jr. would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.

In addition to first degree Attempted Murder, Ruffin Jr. is also charged with second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second degree unlawful possession of weapon.

Ruffin Jr. faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted of the weapons offenses and would have a mandatory minimum parole ineligibility of 42 months.

Neptune Township Police responded to the report of shots fired to the parking lot of the box store on State Highway 66 around 1:09 pm Wednesday and along with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, were able to later identify Ruffin Jr. as the shooter.

If you have any information about this case, you are urged to call Detective Daniel Newman of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Neptune Township Police Detective Bryan Taylor 732-988-8000 extension 420.

You can submit a tip anonymously to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400 or by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available for iOS and Android - https://www.p3tips.com/community/index.htm).

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau.

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