Suspects arrested in robbery, shooting
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - Two borough men are facing charges after an Eatontown man was grazed in the head with a bullet last week.

On April 18, police responded to Joline Avenue, on a report that a male was possibly injured after a shooting had occurred, according to police reports.

Upon arrival, police located a 20-year-old Eatontown man with a burn mark on his left temple where a bullet had grazed his head, according to police reports.

The victim told police he was driving in a car with two other individuals in the area of Seventh Avenue when he recognized two friends he had not seen in a while, according to reports.

The friends were identified as Joseph Willis, 21, and Francisco Gomez, 18, both of Long Branch, according to police reports.

The car pulled to the side of the rode and the victim exited the vehicle and approached the two males, according to reports.

The three men began talking when the victim said he was asked what he had in his pockets, according to reports.

The victim told police he thought the two men were kidding until one of them produced a handgun.

As Willis and Gomez began to go through the victim's pockets, the victim wrestled the two acquaintances, and a gun shot was fired, according to reports.

Both suspects fled the area on foot with the gun and approximately $70 they had stolen from the victim's pockets, according to reports.

Police arrested Willis at the scene and 12 hours later arrested Gomez in his Garfield Court home, police said.

Both men are being charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Bail was set at $250,000 each with no 10 percent option.