Lakewood Man Charged In Shooting Of 4-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Lakewood man has been arrested and charged after a 4-year-old girl was seriously injured when she was shot in the leg Tuesday, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office said.

Sciaire N. Jackson, 27, of Lakewood, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree certain person prohibited from possessing a weapon, Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Thursday.

The girl was sitting outside her family's Asbury Park home about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday with other family members when she was shot, Gramiccioni said. The investigation found Jackson rode up on a bicycle and started firing a handgun at several people outside an apartment on Boston Way, he said.

The girl, who was not the intended target, was playing outside and was shot in the upper thigh, breaking her femur. Doctors treating her say it is serious but not life-threatening, Grammicioni said.

A second person fired back at Jackson but that person has not yet been identified, police said.

Lakewood police assisted with the investigation by the Monmouth County prosecutor's office and Asbury Park police, which is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to call Detective William Anton of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Asbury Park Police Detective Dillon Gourley at 1-732-774-1300.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the confidential telephone tipline at Monmouth County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-671-4400; or by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available for iOS and Android - https://www.p3tips.com/community/index.htm).

Jackson faces maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

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