LONG BRANCH– A man who allegedly shot at a convenience store employee and then struck him with the weapon Sunday has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, Public Safety Director Jason Roebuck said in a statement.
Police responded to the 7-11 on Ocean Boulevard shortly before 5 a.m. on a report of an armed robbery. The cashier, who had been struck in the head, was unable to provide much information and was later hospitalized at Monmouth Medical Center, Roebuck said.
Officer Chris Walls and Cpl. Juan Vasquez reviewed surveillance video, which showed the suspect enter the store, jump over the counter and fire the weapon at the cashier before striking him with the gun. The suspect also appeared to try opening the cash register but fled without opening it.
An investigation by detectives led to the arrest of Shawn Caughey, 26, less than a day later. Caughey, whose last known permanent address was in Staten Island, had recently been staying in Long Branch. The weapon was also found, Roebuck said.
Caughey was charged with attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful firearms possession and possession of a defaced firearm. He was being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution without bail.
“Detectives Charles Simonelli, Joseph Kennedy and Michael Verdadeiro were able to identify and arrest Shawn Caughey by using good, old fashioned police work. They, along with Detective [Michael] Decker, should be commended for their work and for taking this dangerous suspect off the streets in record time,” Roebuck said.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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