UPDATE: Wildwood Police Quickly Nab Shooting Suspect

WILDWOOD — A Wildwood police dispatcher reported shots fired at 2:47 p.m. Mon., July 25 in the 100 block East Garfield Avenue. Within a minute, police had the suspect, a 17-year-old Wildwood resident, in custody.
According to a report issued by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Wildwood patrol officers responded to report of “shots fired.” Upon their arrival, officers found the 18-year-old victim near the corner of Garfield and New Jersey avenues with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Wildwood Police Detective Shawn Yuhas heard the radio call and responded to the area where he encountered the suspect and detained him. Prior to being airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, the victim was able to identify the suspect. At that time the suspect was taken into custody.
Wildwood Police and County Prosecutor’s Office conducted an investigation, with assistance from the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department. A search warrant was issued for a residence on the 100 block of Garfield Avenue. The investigation revealed that second person, Jose Roman, 20, of the 3700 block of New Jersey Avenue in Wildwood was also involved in the assault. Roman was arrested at the scene.
The victim, a Villas resident, is expected to make a full recovery. “The victim is fortunate in that he was not more seriously injured,” said Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor.
According to the report, the handgun used in the shooting malfunctioned. Had it not, it was likely that the injuries could have been fatal.
Both Roman and the 17-year-old juvenile were charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose.
Roman was taken to the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. The juvenile was detained at the Juvenile Detention Facility in Bridgeton.
The County Prosecutor has stated his office will seek to have the juvenile prosecuted as an adult.
Both Taylor and Wildwood Police Chief Steven Long commended the quick response of the Wildwood Police Department’s patrol officers in this investigation for the quick apprehension of suspects.