Toms River Man Arrested In Silverton Shooting

Photo courtesy Ocean County Authorities

TOMS RIVER – The suspect in a recent shooting that occurred in Silverton has been charged and arrested, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

The 70-year old Richard Michael Gato of Toms River was charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose after police reviewed video surveillance of the entire incident that occurred on February 8.

On Feb. 8, the Toms River Police Department responded to 400 Kettle Creek Road Unit 10, where they discovered that 34-year old Robert Oleynick of Toms River suffered a gunshot wound to his chest.

The Toms River Police, alongside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit, conducted an investigation that found the incident to have occurred at Gato’s residence at Margaret Court in Toms River. It was found that, at the time of the incident, Oleynick was at Gato’s residence looking for a friend when he encountered Gato; an ensuing altercation led to Gato shooting him in the chest.

Oleynick was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center and remains in stable condition.

The video surveillance from 46 Margaret Court was obtained with a search warrant, leading to the charges against Gato and his arrest.