A Dec. 7 photo of the intersection near the scene of the shooting earlier that morning. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)

By BRIAN DONOHUE

A 32-year-old Hazlet Township man has been arrested in Florida and charged with attempted murder for a December 7 shooting on St. Mary’s Place in Red Bank, police said.

Yusuf Francis, was arrested “on the run” when officers were able to trace him Pasco County, Florida, where he was arrested Feb. 12, Red Bank Police Chief Mike Frazee said in a press release issued Thursday.

On March 5, 2025, Yusuf was extradited from Florida to New Jersey where he was processed and booked into the Monmouth County Correctional Institute awaiting court proceedings, the press release said.

The early morning shooting near the intersection with Shrewsbury Avenue left Long Branch resident Derek Harper, 36, injured with a single gunshot to his thigh.

RED BANK: MAN SHOT IN THE LEG

Frazee credited Red Bank Police Sgt. Sean Hauschildt and Detective Shane Dengel with the investigative work leading to the arrest. Francis was arrested on a warrant for the following charges:

Attempted Murder, a crime of the 1st degree
Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, a crime of the 1st degree
Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, a crime of the 2nd degree
Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons, a crime of the 2nd degree

“A tremendous amount of skilled hard work along with many man hours went into this investigation,” Frazee said in his statement. “I want to commend everyone from the responding police officers to Sgt. Hauschildt, Det. Dengel, Monmouth County Prosecutors Office and the U.S. Marshalls for their dedicated work and resilience with never giving up as we are committed to bringing to justice those that wish to create havoc in our borough. “

Published reports indicate a man matching Francis’s age residing in Keyport, was indicted in 2012 for attempted murder. Another 2013 indictment followed for a Yusuf Francis for an alleged armed robbery in Matawan.

redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.