By John Burton
RED BANK — Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and borough police have arrested a Long Branch man on Monday they say was responsible for the April 9 shooting of a borough man on the west side.
Anthony Sims Jr., 25, Long Branch, and formerly of Red Bank, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to be in possession of a weapon, according to Charles Webster, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.
A joint investigation conducted by the prosecutor’s office and borough police resulted in Sims arrest less than a week after authorities said Sims fired multiple shots at a Willow Street resident as the victim sat in his car that was parked in the home’s driveway at approximately 7:45 p.m., Webster said.
The victim, only identified as a male borough resident, suffered numerous gunshot wounds and was taken by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell said following the incident.
The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, Webster said.
Investigators are urging anyone with any information to contact the prosecutor’s office, 1-800-533-7443, or Red Bank Detective Robert Campanella at 732-530-2719. Information may be given anonymously by calling Monmouth County Crime Stoppers, 1-800-671-4400.
A conviction of first-degree attempted murder carries with it a maximum penalty of 20 years in state prison; and the offense is subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning the offender would have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before being considered for parole, Webster said.
