BRICK — A baptism party turned violent in Brick Township early this morning when a man opened fire on a guest before fleeing, authorities said. The shooting occurred a few hours into the party, shortly before 12:30 a.m. outside the Community Volunteer First Aid building on Mantoloking Road, said Brick police Capt. John Rein. Rein said Lorenzo Quintero, 25,...
View full sizeA map of the location of the Community First Aid & Emergency Squad in Brick Township, where a man was shot at the rear parking lot of the squad building.BRICK — A baptism party turned violent in Brick Township early this morning when a man opened fire on a guest before fleeing, authorities said.
The shooting occurred a few hours into the party, shortly before 12:30 a.m. outside the Community Volunteer First Aid building on Mantoloking Road, said Brick police Capt. John Rein.
Rein said Lorenzo Quintero, 25, of Toms River, was shot in the face after he was confronted by a man in the back parking lot.
The shooter fired three shots, one of which hit Quintero, Rein said. The other two shots, from a small-caliber weapon, hit the rear of the building, he said.
Quintero was treated at the scene by Brick police EMS and MONOC paramedics. He was conscious when he was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Rein said, noting his injuries did not immediately appear to be life threatening. Quintero’s condition was not immediately known tonight.
The victim and witnesses provided police with only a vague description of the shooter, who they said was a short Hispanic male. He is believed to have fled the scene in a black or dark-colored sport utility vehicle, possibly with passengers.
Police officers and New Jersey State Troopers stopped vehicles fitting that description early this morning in Brick, Toms River and nearby Bay Head, Rein said.
Investigators believe the shooter also attended the party, which had about 100 guests in the rental hall of the first aid squad building.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Brick Detective Mark Byrne at 732-262-1120.