FREEHOLD – A Neptune Township man has been arrested and charged for his role in a shooting that took place in the parking lot of Walmart, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Mark Ruffin Jr., 22, of Neptune Township, has been arrested and charged with one count of first degree attempted murder, one count of second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second degree unlawful possession of weapon.
On May 5, 2021, at approximately 1:09 p.m., the Neptune Township Police Department responded to 3755 State Highway 66 to reports of shots fired. Upon arrival officers discovered one male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a local hospital for the non-life threatening gunshot injury. A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Neptune Township Police subsequently revealed that Mark Ruffin, Jr. was responsible for shooting the victim.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Detective Daniel Newman of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Neptune Township Police Detective Bryan Taylor 732-988-8000 x420.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line 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).
If convicted of attempted murder, Ruffin Jr. faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
If convicted of the weapons offenses, Ruffin Jr. faces up to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison, with a mandatory minimum parole ineligibility of 42 months pursuant to the Graves Act.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.