What can be done about the gun violence in Neptune, NJ?

Neptune, NJ –  How can you curb the crime in Neptune Township, NJ? That’s what residents gathered to talk about Thursday night at the Neptune Municipal building.

Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation held a mandatory meeting on the recent gun activity plaguing the township of Neptune, NJ. Held at the Neptune Township’s municipal building, MURC’s president, Dianna Harris, gathered with residents, community leaders,  and Neptune police to discuss causes/effects and possible solutions to the problem.

The recent violence in Neptune has caused some concern within the community.

At the end of February there was a robbery at a Chinese food restaurant on Route 33 by Jumping Brook Rd. The robber in a ski mask and dark clothing robbed the restaurant, ordering a female cashier to hand over cash while threatening the staff with a revolver.

On February 23rd, people responded to gunshots on Squirrel Road around 7:15 p.m. An investigation revealed no shots were fired, but patrol officers and the Street Crimes Unit conducted a follow-up investigation that resulted in the recovery of a handgun and what they described as a large amount of marijuana. Five men were arrested and face gun and drug possession charges.

On February 4th a man was shot in the chest near Myrtle and Stratford avenues and was taken to the hospital with injuries considered non-life threatening.

Violent crimes in Neptune Township have increased by 2.6 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to New Jersey state police records. That increase is from 4 incidents, from 154 to 158. That’s after a 14 percent jump in violent crime between 2014 and 2015, from 135 to 154 instances of violent crime.

Community members see the meeting as a start to finding solutions and suppressing the recent surge in violent crime. At the meeting, attendees watched a documentary about teens against guns, asked various questions to community leaders, and had a well-detailed problem/solution session with action plans.

The main purpose I left with was that both the Asbury Park and Neptune communities coming together to build up two communities that have seen it’s fair share of problem. Though Asbury Park has seen a decrease in crime within the last year, some residents have questioned whether violence has spilled over into Neptune; especially in the Midtown area.

Community members hope to see more upper police officials and committee members at the meeting so that they can hear the concerns of the township first hand. Officer Gregory Washington took notes and addressed the citizens and their fears about gang violence in the community. He assured the citizens that the Neptune Twp Police department is doing everything possible to address the rising gang violence.

Watch video highlights below of the meeting: