Montgomery Terrace on Tilton Avenue, scene of Monday night’s shooting.
Two men are in critical but stable condition at an unidentified hospital this evening after being shot outside the Montgomery Terrace apartments late last night, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office.
Authorities are seeking 19-year-old Anthony Sims, who gives addresses in both Red Bank and Eatontown, as the suspect in the shootings. He has been charged in absentia with three counts of attempted murder and related weapons charges.
“Sims remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said in a press release issued late this afternoon. “Anyone with information regarding Sims’ whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately so that he can be swiftly and safely taken into custody.”
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A third intended victim was shot at but not struck, the prosecutor’s office reported.
Authorities are withholding the names of the victims and the name of the hospital they’re in to ensure their safety, we’re told. “With an armed shooter at large, this is an unusual situation,” a member of the prosecutor’s staff told us this evening.
The Asbury Park Press is reporting that the two gunshot victims are “reportedly brothers.” Assistant Prosecutor Peter Warshaw said he would not comment on the report or immediately disclose where the victims were from.
Sims is described as a black male, approximately 5′ 10″ tall and weighing about 160 pounds, with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding Sims’ whereabouts or the shooting is asked to immediately call Detective Jeff Wilbert of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Robert Clayton of the Red Bank Police Department at 732-530-2719.
The prosecutor’s office reported that authorities were called to the scene, on Tilton Avenue, at 11:38p after reports of shots fired. There, they found the two victims, whose identities they have not released, with apparent gunshot wounds that were life-threatening.
Both victims had emergency surgery and are in critical but stable condition, the prosecutor’s announcement says.
No motive for the shootings was given. Authorities also did not specify exactly where the victims were found, but redbankgreen has learned they were in the area of the north-facing units in the photo above.
At Montgomery Terrace early this afternoon, there was no police tape or other obvious indications that a crime had occurred. One resident and a man who said he was a visitor to the apartment complex declined to talk to a redbankgreen reporter.
A crew of workmen cleaning up after demolishing a shed at the complex said they were unaware that there had been a shooting.
“But now that we know, as soon as darkness falls, we’ll be out of here,” one of them said.
The 40-unit complex, which is owned and managed by the Red Bank Housing Authority, has been the site of gun-related crimes in the past.
In April, 2006, a 22-year-old man was shot in the leg in a drive-by shooting; police said at the time that there were no indications that it was gang-related, according to an article in the Hub.
Montgomery Terrace was also the scene of one of four reports of gunfire on the West Side in July and August of this year.
No one was injured and no property damage was reported at the apartments, though police found empty shell casings on the scene. The shooting, and the three reported at the same time, is still under investigation by police.
What's the common thread? Yup, another crime, another male. When will we realize that we can't just let all these males move to our town willy-nilly?
[For those who haven't seen my earlier posts, the above is sarcasm, intended to forestall racist comments that were starting to appear with every crime story.]
HMMMM How many shootings on the east side of town has there been. Evening out the tax rates is fine if we could live the same way. On the eastside of town you can sit on your porch or take a walk around the block CAN YOU DO THIS ON THE WEST SIDE HELL NO.Its only gonna get worse. Its time to wakeup and do something
Chief Fitzgerald, how many shootings do we have to have on the west side before you decide to pull some cops away from watching the co-eds going into Ashes and, instead, put them on the west side of town? In that violent crime continues to rise considerably under your watch, will you do the honorable thing and resign so that the people of Red Bank could possibly get some effective, non-impotent leadership at the RBPD?
To the Westsiders..NO one shows up to the Neighborhood Watch meetings..But now you want to complain!
Do we need more police now on the Westside?
Which one of our famous council members still don't think we need more police officers?
It may or may not have prevented this, hard to say..but it would be nice to know that at least we have the police to cover this!
What will it be like if they go thru with this Riverfront project? Not enough police but too many criminals!
We have to come together as a community and help one another..lets not continue to wait and see. The time to act is now!
There usualy isn't a neighborhood watch meeting for December, BUT we have been assured by the Chief that if we want one then one will be scheduled!
If you would like to have a meeting..PLEASE CALL the Chief and let him know.
Call 732-530-2700 ask for the Chiefs office and let him know you want to have this meeting!; residents of Montgomery Terrace this is your chance to get involved and take a stand that you have zero tolerance to crime in your neighborhood!
Can someone explain to me why it is that New Jersey is one of only a handful of states that does not allow its law-abiding, properly trained citizens the opportunity to obtain licenses to carry concealed weapons? Call me old fashioned, but I have to believe that if the Anthony Sims of the world thought that they might be encountering an armed victim, there would be less crime going on.
SO VERITAS? COME OUT FROM BEHIND THE COMPUTER AND GO TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND TALK TO THE CHIEF. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PICK UP THE PHONE AND ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. BUT I'M SURE THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE GUTS OR THE BRAINS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WITH BRAINS. SO IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE ABOUT THE TOWN, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DON'T SAY ANYTHING. YOU KNOW IT'S BETTER TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, THEN TO OPEN IT AND PROVE HOW STUPID YOU REALLY ARE. THE POLICE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THIS CASE AS THEY HAVE DONE WITH ALL THE CASES IN THE TOWN. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB, GET AN APPLICATION TO JOIN THE DEPARTMENT, SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND PROVE YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
I was awoken by gunshots at 11:30 pm. And hours later, I'm downtown hearing uber richies gush about how great it is that Tiffany has come to town. What a strange place Red Bank is.
I hope they get this guy.
One note to John T:
Please don't interpret the low attendance at the neighborhood watch meetings as a sign of apathy on part of the west side community. Many people, like myself, find it hard to make the meetings because we work past the 7 pm start time and/or have family obligations in the evening. I attended the first few, but dropped out - partly because it was just repeating what I already do - call the police with specific descriptions when we see suspicious things, be extremely nosy neighbors, etc. (I also augment those tactics with chasing anyone who messes around on my block with an aluminum baseball bat I keep handy. Perhaps they could consider adding that tactic to the program.) Anyway, it's not just apathy that keeps attendance down there.
Veritas, I have said it before and I will continue to keep saying it, The police department and Chief, Fitzgerald are not to blame, they do as fine a job as they can, and indeed do a very excellent good job, even with the limited resources that they have. Perhaps if the greedy ones that sit behind the council dais can ever see from their ivory towers how desperate we are over on the West Side then perhaps they will stop their needless spending, their plundering of the tax dollars for their personal gain (health care), their giving of huge raises and bonus's and multiple jobs and let those funds go to the police force for additional officers, Where they are so desperately needed. The people of the west side in my opinion made a grievous error in judgment on election day by electing Sharon Lee, she of the famous quote "we do not need more police' this is your side of town Sharon, you are supposed to represent us, and here we are again at the OK corral. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE DECENCY TO RESIGN, AS YOU EVIDENTIALLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CONSITUANTS, but we have to live with that for a couple more years, only when we have parity on the bench it seems will the west side really matter. To you on the East side of town, your retort to our cry's of outrage of property tax increase keep coming back to 'parity for both sides, same services same taxes', well i would love for my kids to play outside.Your kids can play football on Hudson street, play a little kick ball on Mcclaren or catch on Tower. Not us. our favorite games are dodge the bullets followed by avoid the drunk, which just eeks out stop the drunk illegal from pissing in your yard. You on the council, you know who you are, give it up. I have stated it so many times its sickening,
Council members LEAD FOLLOW OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY.
to the poster who posted WOW, how appropriate.
TO: John Tyler
I am sorry but I don't think that we should have to attend a neighborhood watch meeting to be safe. What we need is police presents on the west side and Stanley sickles to get off his high paid ass and start working on overcrowding.Its not very hard to find overcrowding houses and apartments its as bout as easy as seeing someone's garbage put out early.
opps I meant presence
the police are not at fault like gary said there has been extra patrol in the area and someone mentioned all they do is sit outside of ashes. yes they do when the bar is closing and fights break out do u expect them to not show up just drive around the westside waiting for something to happen. Just be happy that no one died and that red bank police have identified the gunman.
Actually, yet another crime was committed.
This Sims jerk is wearing the WORST pair of earrings I've seen. AWFUL taste.
Just this fact should earn him the "shoot to kill" order.
Marge Schott is probably turning over in her grave.
Ok..we have to work..and it is hard to make meetings. Is it just as hard to get out of bed when someone is breaking into you home?
I understand and I am not saying that to put anyone down..but if you want changes you have to put forth the effort to help make these changes! It is not going to happen overnight! We all know that..but we have to be willing to work to make the changes in our everyday life!
If everyone said "What a waste of time going to the meetings" what would get done in the long run?; Nothing!
So we have to stick it out. Continue to voice our concerns, let people who are in charge know that we as a community are tired of living this way!
Yeh, rigt. nothing to do with drugs?
Does anyone beleive that? There is a certain home over at Montgomery Terrace that is the biggest housing project for the drug dealers, selling right out of the house. Almost like Stop&Shop! Why is this still being allowed?
Prostitutes on the corner, (Shrewsbury & Catherine) Cars parked illegally,Loud music still!
Hey.lets send it all to the Mayor's house!
You think anything will get done then?
Welcome to the Westside all of you holidy shoppers…OOOPPPSSS..I forgot you don't come to the Westside of town.
Don't tell anyone..but they have shootings over there..we want people from other towns to feel safe, spend the money in our stores downtown. Lets ignore the problem maybe it will go away!
If not we can just build it up with condos kick all the poor people out and have the Westside all to ourselves!! Not nice to say but true.
Will it work? Yeh..no problem, no one listens to them anyway.
To God..
We need your help. Please lead us out of darkness and into the light!
Dear Fortune Teller,
Thank you for asking for my advice. I do believe that Gary and John are correct in their views that it is going to take the whole community to deal with the crime on the Westside. A large police presence is a must. That is why Long Branch never turned into an Asbury Park. Drugs and guns are the devils work and we need to rid this problem from every community. Gangs are developing because people see it as a way to get nice things. Through proper education, well paying jobs and the end of discrimination, gangs will disappear and so will the violance. You can learn more about peace,love and understanding at this week's church services. Don't forget the Christmas tree lighting on TV tonight from Rockafeller Center which should spread the joy of the season. I think my friend Santa will be there. See you this weekend.
This shooting is worrisome, to be sure. But Gary, I was startled to read your description of life on the West Side. It does not match at all the reality I experience every day.
"Your kids can play football on Hudson street, play a little kick ball on Mcclaren or catch on Tower. Not us. our favorite games are dodge the bullets followed by avoid the drunk, which just eeks out stop the drunk illegal from pissing in your yard."
I live about a football field from where this shooting took place. I specifically chose this neighborhood to move here a few years back because when I walked around I saw kids playing outside all the time, even at night, just like the nabe where I grew up. I sit on my porch all the time, push the stroller all over the place. The kids on our block play in the street all the time.
Look, you have to watch your back. Be vigilant. You have to have some street smarts. Some extra police patrols would be nice.
But your depiction of flying bullets and staggering drunks all over the place is not even close to what I see and experience.
Hi All,
"The all mighty dollar strikes again"
It's true this is an example of "major crime" in our little town. It is however one of two reported shootings in 18 months.
Statistically speaking, Red Bank is below the national average with regards to "major crime" per capita.
On the other hand Red Bank is at the national average when it comes to felony criminal activity per capita.
Whereas Red Bank used to be below the national crime rate in the United States of America.
Why the change?
We are a little town in a crowded state and part of a great country, as such we are also experiencing a growing symptom of our society which is the being fueled primarily by an economic recession on ALL LEVELS.
Remember, everyone is susceptible to desperation.
Who got shot and why?
Was it drugs,gang,passion,disgruntled employee,car deal gone bad???
Only the shooter knows why the victims were shot.
I'll bet this, money and the lack of it had something to do with it in someway….someone, somehow got shorted in someway and someone got shot.
Yes, someone got shot, the only fact in this latest "Red Bank Bang Scream" pile of posts.
The "common thread" is "EVERYONE WANTS CHANGE ! HARUMPH,HARUMPH,HARUMPH!!"
Again I say, it is up to us, THE PEOPLE to make the change. It is our right and duty to do so.
Yes, we all want our own private patrolmen/women watching over our neighborhoods.
That luxury comes at a price.
Until we, as a town, choose to take real action to remedy our concerns be it through more effective $pending of our tax dollar$ or to permit a tax increase to $upport more patrol$ or maybe make an effort to remedy the ever growing "non tax paying - tax exhausting" element, then we are an empty voice here and have to except what happens in our little town.
Where to start?
At the top, always.
Mr. Mayor, Chief, Elected Council Members will you join us?
I'll see you at the town meeting.
Wherever, whenever that is.
Please advise.
Again I ask …..
When does a vine stop growing?
*Answer correctly and we will all be better*
Shecky