TOMS RIVER: Additional Update on Tonight’s Shooting Incident

TOMS RIVER: Earlier tonight we picked up the call for Shots Fired in Toms River. The story occurred Sunday evening shortly after 19:00, but a few details still need clarification. The TRPD confirmed they responded to the area of the 1900 Block of Red Cedar for a call regarding gunshots. Of course a formal comprehensive press release was not issued yet as the investigation is ongoing. OCSN was able to learn a few more details regarding the incident that we were able to share in earlier stories.

Original radio reports indicated a residence was possibly fired upon, as in a drive-by shooting. It was originally thought there were multiple shots fired, and the suspect might have a rifle, or automatic weapon, or an AR-type weapon. The suspect then flees in a vehicle, and heads toward Beachwood. Ultimately it was determined that an emotionally disturbed resident did fire a gun into the air- and fled the scene. TRPD points out the suspect was taken to CMC for evaluation, and no additional details are provided. What is worth mentioning is the amazing level of interoperability between various departments, which led to a quick capture. Technology available to OCSD allowed the suspect vehicle to be tracked, and additional officers were standing by waiting to apprehended the suspect safely. Most importantly- there were NO injuries from tonight’s compound incident.

Ocean County Scanner News will always publish subsequent stories to add, clarify or correct any information about a story we posted. Again, nothing that we go out of our way to be considered Fake News to do- but this is the nature of our specific news outlet. When you base a story off of preliminary, partial, or cryptic details- it often gives us enough for a basic post. Many calls dispatched and police investigations are assigned based off facts from the public contacting police. Upon arrival- first responders often find the incident to be vastly different than described- or not even occurring at all. People call emergency services for incidents all the time- and it’s not uncommon for callers to report stuff wrong. In regards to the actual weapon used by the suspect- we only relayed information picked up by other agencies- which is based off the victims who originally called 911. It doesn’t matter if the term “Assault Rifle” is an actual term or not- we publish what descriptions are referenced as we hear it. Nowhere do we mean to upset Second Amendment supporters- many on staff are firearms owners. We aren’t firearms experts either- and unless we have a photo, exact description, or gun serial number- we’re guessing based off what we hear.

Various reports go out over the various channels- and we do our best to publish the most plausible story. Upon confirming that an actual gun was fired, and what is happening- we assemble a short narrative as best we can. For those readers who are new to Ocean County Scanner News- this is common procedure for us. As we strive to be the best source for breaking news in Ocean County, we also strive for accuracy. We would love to hear an incident on a scanner, get the perfect picture, and post the disposition and/or press release instantly. However, we will often publish multiple small stories to convey information quickly instead of waiting hours or days for a press release. This is our business- the nature of obtaining news over a radio. This means the final information and facts are subject to change.

In relation to this shooting call on Red Cedar tonight- we relayed all pertinent information as best we could. Once it was confirmed that shots were indeed fired, and we had a location- we figured that was worthy enough to alert the public. OCSN published a story using enough details to keep the public safe, while at the same time concealing personal details until released by police. We also delay stories and omit details to balance officer safety versus providing public information. It’s a fine line, and this process could be much easier without radio encryption. With most police dispatch channels being encrypted like Toms River, it makes it hard to assemble facts. Unfortunately TRPD, among other police departments in our area purposely block their dispatch channels from the media and scanner owners from listening. This is part of a larger transparency issue- but keep in mind it hampers our story construction at OCSN.

Many people are new here to OCSN and our style of news. We don’t claim to be number 1, we don’t claim to win awards- but we are proud to bring you accurate breaking news as we hear it. You can visit us and learn about what’s going on in your community as it happens. Or you can read about it in mainstream print “Press” newspapers days later. The choice is yours- but we’ve been at it since 2013 and have a good grasp on this game.

Finally, a word about public photographs. Some of you need to familiarize yourselves with minimally the First Amendment in regards to freedoms of the press. Pictures, whether gruesome or not, are perfectly legal for news media to take and use in a story. Pictures need to be taken from a public area, public street, or anywhere else that’s a public right of way. Police may also tie caution tape around a scene, and any photos taken behind the tape are fair game. People in public should have zero expectations and guarantees of privacy- especially when taken from a roadway. Additionally, the NJ law about first responders sharing accident photos on social media is just that kind of law. Thankfully nobody on OCSN staff is an active first responder- so we aren’t breaking any laws.

Understandably this post turned a little into a rant, and we apologize for that. However, we do not apologize for any aspect of the way we wrote tonight’s shots fired story. This is the way Ocean County Scanner News primarily operates- and we realize we might not be the news outlet for everyone. We do ask that when contacting OCSN about an issue, you make sure you actually understand the law you claim you do.

Thanks again to all the loyal fans who are helping make OCSN a top contender in the Ocean County local news market. We will continue to keep our communities informed as best we can.

Stay Alert- Stay Alive