Little Egg Harbor Shooting Suspect Pleads Guilty

Little Egg Harbor Shooting Suspect Pleads Guilty

TOMS RIVER,  NJ – Donald Rutter, 53, of Tuckerton, pleaded guilty in court to a charge of aggravated assault and stalking on Monday for a January 2021 shooting incident.

According to a report by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, 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.  Mr. Jarvis was treated for his injuries and eventually released from the hospital,” court records show. “An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit revealed that Rutter was, in fact, the individual who shot Mr. Jarvis.”

Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said an exhaustive search of the surrounding area was unsuccessful in locating Rutter in the aftermath of the shooting.  As such, a warrant was issued for Rutter’s arrest.

Then, on January 28, 2021, Rutter was located in Atlantic City and taken into custody, without incident, by the United States Marshals Service.  He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.

OCPO.