Girl, 8, who had suffered gunshot wound also found in area
ASBURY PARK -- The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting Wednesday night that injured an 8-year-old girl and an armed suspect who had been stopped by an officer.
Following the shooting in the area near Springwood Avenue, police discovered the girl wounded by gunfire, officials said. She was treated at an area hospital and later released.
The bullet grazed the child's head as she watched TV in her home, according to a report by the Asbury Park Press.
First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Marc LeMieux said he was awaiting additional information before saying who is believed to have shot the child. The armed man who led the officer on the chase also was shot, officials said.
Family members identified the suspect and said he was walking to a deli when the confrontation with the officer happened, according to a report on News12 New Jersey. Family members also claimed the man was unarmed at the time, according to the report.
Earlier in the evening, Chief of Detectives Michael Pasterchick said an officer shot two people shortly after 7 p.m.
LeMieux said Officer Terrance McGhee was on patrol in the area when he spotted a 20-year-old man around 7:19 p.m. at Springwood and Atkins avenues.
When McGhee approached the man, McGhee noticed he had a gun, LeMieux said. LeMieux declined to say what prompted McGhee to approach the man initially.
The man then ran from McGhee, heading west on Springwood toward Avenue A, where the man opened fire with a 9-mm semi-automatic Smith and Wesson, LeMieux said.
McGhee returned fire, striking the man, whose wounds were non-life-threatening. LeMieux did not say how many rounds were fired during the exchange.
McGhee was unhurt but was hospitalized per procedure when an officer is involved in a shooting, authorities also said.
Wednesday night, detectives had cordoned off an area near an empty lot in the vicinity of Adams, Springwood and Atkins avenues as they carried out an investigation. Spotlights were focused on the empty lot during the investigation.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.