Toms River Man Charged In Shooting Of Lost Driver In Lakewood

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man has been charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a man at the West Gate shopping complex who got lost driving in the area, authorities said Friday.

Million Brown-Bey, 47, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, being a certain person not to possess a weapon, and refusal to allow a biological sample to be collected in connection with the shooting that happened in Lakewood on Jan. 7, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Lakewood police received a 911 call about 10 p.m. on Jan. 7 reporting gunshots in the area of the West Gate Shopping Complex, he said.

A short time later, a 27-year-old man from Asbury Park arrived at Ocean University Medical Center in Brick with gunshot wounds to both of his arms, Billhimer said. The victim was treated for his injuries and released.

Investigators from the prosecutor’s office Major Crime Unit and Lakewood detectives learned the victim arrived at a residence on Hillside Avenue and a person — later identified as Brown-Bey — approached his vehicle and fired at least one round, hitting the victim in both arms, authorities said.

The victim was able to drive himself to the hospital.

Authorities were able to identify Brown-Bey as the shooter, and on Thursday he was arrested, Billhimer said.

He refused to provide a DNA sample as required by law, the prosecutor said.

Brown-Bey was taken to the Ocean County Jail to await a detention hearing, Billhimer said.

The prosecutor’s office Major Crime Unit and Gangs/Intelligence/Homeland Security Squad, the Lakewood Township Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, Lakehurst Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, assisted in the investigation and Brown-Bey’s arrest, Billhimer said.