Victim’s plea for mercy played a role in resolving the case, prosecutor says
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A Jackson Township woman who shot a 79-year-old man in the shoulder and fled before being stopped by police in a neighboring town was sentenced Friday to seven years in New Jersey State Prison, with prosecutors saying the victim’s push for mercy helped shape the outcome of the case.
Marian Rojas, 34, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer following her guilty plea to aggravated assault, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.
Rojas must serve at least 85% of the seven-year sentence before she can be considered for parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
She pleaded guilty June 15.
The case stems from an Oct. 24, 2025, shooting at a residence on Jackson Pines Road in Jackson Township.
Jackson Township police officers were dispatched to the home at approximately 9:15 p.m. following a report of a gunshot victim.
Officers found a 79-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder, according to prosecutors.
The man was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was treated for injuries described as minor and subsequently released.
Investigators determined Rojas had shot the man and fled the scene, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police distributed a description of Rojas and the vehicle she was believed to be driving to surrounding departments.
About 45 minutes after officers were initially called to the shooting, Manchester Township police stopped a vehicle matching the description.
Rojas was driving the vehicle, prosecutors said.
She was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she has remained detained since the night of the shooting.
Billhimer said the victim showed compassion and forgiveness during the case and made clear that he wanted mercy extended to Rojas.
According to the prosecutor, the victim’s position was a significant factor in the state’s willingness to resolve the criminal case through the plea agreement.
The prosecutor’s office did not disclose the relationship between Rojas and the victim or provide a motive for the shooting in its announcement.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke handled the case for the state.
Billhimer credited the Jackson Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit with their work on the investigation.
Rojas will now serve a seven-year state prison sentence for a shooting that wounded a 79-year-old man, with the victim’s own request for mercy playing a role in how prosecutors resolved the case.
Key Points
- Marian Rojas, 34, was sentenced Friday to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for shooting a 79-year-old man in Jackson Township.
- Rojas must serve at least 85% of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
- Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said the victim’s request that Rojas receive mercy was a significant factor in the state’s resolution of the case.
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