WILDWOOD – A 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with firing a 9mm handgun on the boardwalk early Saturday morning, July 5, police said. There were no injuries.

Patrol officers responded to multiple shots being fired in the area of Cedar and Atlantic avenues at about 1 a.m., according to a police statement.

They immediately observed a male with a firearm fleeing on foot. The officers pursued the suspect, but he blended into the crowd on the boardwalk.

While being pursued, the youth discarded the firearm on the boardwalk. The crime scene was cordoned off while numerous officers, with the assistance of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, continued to search area.

During the search, a 9mm Palmetto Dagger handgun containing a17-round magazine with one round of ammunition in the chamber was located in the area of Cedar Avenue and the boardwalk. Subsequently, sixteen 9mm shell casings were collected at the scene. Surveillance video revealed that several people were involved in the shooting incident.

At about 5:30 p.m. July 5, Wildwood detectives saw the suspect on the boardwalk in the area of Spencer Avenue. He and three other persons of interest were detained and taken to police headquarters.

As a result of the continuing investigation by the Police Department’s Detective Division and Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, a 17-year-old Pennsauken youth was charged with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree aggravated assault/pointing a firearm and fourth-degree high-capacity magazine.