Police in Asbury Park call for cease-fire after 11 shootings in 6 weeks
A recent rash of shootings in Asbury Park has local officials calling for a cease-fire. Just in the past six weeks, there have been 11 shootings in the city. Seven people have been hit, and one person
News 12 Staff
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Dec 9, 2016, 3:11 AM
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Updated 2,703 days ago
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A recent rash of shootings in Asbury Park has local officials calling for a cease-fire.
Just in the past six weeks, there have been 11 shootings in the city. Seven people have been hit, and one person was killed.
"It's the year 2016. For shootings to be going on like this is just totally horrific," says Asbury Park Mayor John Moor.
On Third Avenue, a makeshift memorial marks the spot where Dexter Dunston was murdered last week. Dunston's brother says that no one saw anything related to the shooting, so it remains unsolved.
Residents tell News 12 New Jersey that the shootings are related to a conflict between two rival gangs. But police are not saying if this is the case.
"I can't say whether they're gang-related because it's an ongoing investigation," says Asbury Park Police Chief Anthony Salerno. "What I can tell you is these are not random acts of violence."
The mayor and police chief are urging the public to come forward with information that could lead to arrests.
"Part of the problem is nobody is stepping forward to help the police, to help the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office," says Mayor Moor.
Neighboring Neptune Township also had five recent shootings. Police there say some weapons possession arrests seem to have improved the situation.
