LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ – A man was shot in the midsection on Wednesday and now, Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer has filed attempted murder charges against Tuckerton resident Donald Rutter. Rutter, according to Billhimer is the gunman behind the shooting at Jarvis Marine earlier this week.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 6, 2021, Donald Rutter, 51, of Tuckerton, was charged with Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), as well as Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1), in connection with a shooting incident involving bodily injury which occurred during the evening hours of January 5, 2021.
On January 5, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Little Egg Harbor Township Police were dispatched to Jarvis Marine on Radio Road in response to a 911 call which related that an individual had been shot. Responding Officers found Thomas Jarvis, 55, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to his midsection.
Mr. Jarvis was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. Investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit revealed that Rutter was, in fact, the individual who shot Mr. Jarvis. Mr. Jarvis is currently in stable condition.
An exhaustive search of the surrounding area by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Park Police, United States Marshals Service, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Tuckerton Police Department was unsuccessful in locating Rutter.
“Rutter has not yet been apprehended is currently a fugitive from justice. Anyone with information concerning Rutter’s whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
The press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.