Teen shot in face at Ocean County Mall, investigation underway, police say

Law enforcement officials are on the hunt for a shooter who, police say, shot a teen in the face in an altercation at the Ocean County Mall on Wednesday night before fleeing the scene.

According to police, the incident happened at about 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday when police officers were called to the Ocean County Mall, on Hooper Avenue in Toms River Township, to find a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in the face.

The boy, officials said, was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Follow up investigation found that the boy was struck after he was seated in a common area of the mall and was confronted by an individual.

After that confrontation, police said the individual — who police did not immediately provide additional identifying information on — walked away from the victim before stopping and turning back.

The individual then produced a firearm and fired several shots at the victim, striking the boy once in the face, officials said.

“This appears to be a targeted shooting, and there is no known danger to the public at this time,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a statement. “This incident is currently under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.”

Police believe the shooter fled the area in a gray sedan following this incident.

Billhimer said new information will be released “at the appropriate time.”

An investigation, officials said, is still underway.

Police are asking anyone who may have information on this shooting to contact the Sergeant Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 2746.