LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Department of Justice has joined the investigation after attacks against Orthodox Jews living in Lakewood, and Jackson Township turned into a violent rampage.

FBI agents out of New Jersey’s Red Bank field office are now assisting local authorities, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Lakewood Police Department and Jackson Police Department.

Initially, local officials stopped short of describing the incident as a targeted attack against the Orthodox Jewish community, but today, at 3:30 pm, federal, state and local law enforcement officials are holding a press conference at Lakewood town hall to discuss the crimes, now being labeled as a targeted hate crime.

A violent crime spree that started near Martin Luther King Boulevard in Lakewood and ended a few miles away in Jackson. Police have arrested Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester for three counts of attempted murder.

ORIGINAL REPORT

According to police, at around 1:15 pm on Friday, officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to Martin Luther King Drive and Pine Street for a report of a carjacking.  Responding officers determined that a male suspect approached a 2016 Toyota Camry, assaulted the driver, and fled the area in the vehicle.  

An Orthodox Jewish man was removed from the vehicle by Marsh and repeatedly punched in the face. He was treated at the scene by Hatzola.

Prior to this carjacking, Marsh unsuccessfully attempted to carjack another victim, but the driver was able to escape with their vehicle unharmed.

Later in the evening, at around 6:00 pm, the Lakewood Township Police Department received a report of a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle in the area of Central Avenue and Carlton Avenue.  

“Responding officers discovered that a male victim had been struck by a dark-colored vehicle.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he is listed in stable condition,” Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer reported. “At approximately 6:55 p.m., Lakewood Township Police Officers responded to a 911 call in reference to a stabbing in the vicinity of Pine Circle Drive and Lakewood New Egypt Road.  The officers discovered a male victim with a stab wound to his chest. The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.”

Later another pedestrian was struck, this time in Jackson Township.

“At approximately 8:20 p.m., Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to a 911 call for a report of a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle in the area of Galassi Court,” Billhimer said. “Responding Officers were able to determine that the male victim had been struck by the same vehicle that was taken in the carjacking incident in Lakewood earlier in the day.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.”

Marsh was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder, carjacking, unlawful possession of a weapon and three counts of bias intimidation.

All of Marsh’s victims were Orthodox Jews.

“The bias intimidation charges arose over statements Marsh made to detectives,” said Bryan Huntenburg, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

Lakewood and Jackson Township have one of the largest populations of Orthodox Jews in America.

“Our investigation reveals that these criminal acts were committed throughout the day yesterday into the early evening and that Marsh was acting alone and not in concert with anyone else.  I’m grateful for the collaborative efforts of every police officer and detective that worked swiftly to identify Marsh and bring him into custody without further injury to anyone.  A tremendous job by all involved,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.