MONMOUTH COUNTY – Two individuals have been arrested and charged with Attempted Murder after a road-rage incident led to a nonfatal shooting, officials said.
Keyshawn J. Palmer, 29, of Freehold Township and Chyna R. Edwards, 22, of Tinton Falls were both charged with first-degree Attempted Murder, first-degree Conspiracy to Commit Attempted Murder, and two related second-degree weapons offenses. Palmer was additionally charged with fourth-degree Certain Persons not to Possess a Firearm, while Edwards was additionally charged with second-degree Aggravated Assault.
On January 14 around 11 p.m., officers from the Ocean Township Police Department responded to the area of Wickapecko Drive and Sunset Avenue following a report of a shooting. An adult female told police that an adult male acquaintance had been shot in the leg moments earlier and was being transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigation revealed that the incident began on Route 35 in Eatontown when the female victim unintentionally cut off a car being driven by Edwards, with Palmer in the passenger seat.
Allegedly, Edwards followed the female victim through several towns before striking her car not far from the scene of the shooting. The male victim had arrived in the area moments later after the female victim contacted him.
A verbal dispute then broke put between the male victim and Palmer to which Palmer allegedly fired a handgun at him, shooting him in the leg. Palmer and Edwards then fled the scene.
Officials identified Palmer and Edwards as the suspects and they later turned themselves in without incident on February 15. They were then lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) to await a first appearance and detention hearing.
Detectives searched the car driven by Edwards and seized a .380-caliber handgun.
Convictions on first-degree criminal charges are commonly punishable by terms of 10 to 20 years in state prison.
The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean Township Police Department would like to thank the members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Freehold Borough Police Department, and Freehold Township Police Department who assisted in this investigation.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Christopher Guy at 1-800-533-7443 or Ocean Township Police Department Detective Dean Schoch at 732-531-1800.
Despite the charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
