A Toms River man pled guilty today in connection with the 2024 shooting in Lakewood’s Westgate neighborhood.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Million Brown-Bey, 49, of Toms River, pled guilty before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to Aggravated Assault and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon.

At his sentencing, scheduled for December 18, the State will be seeking a term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison on the Aggravated Assault charge, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, and 10 years in state prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility on the weapon charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

As previously reported, on January 7, 2024, the Lakewood Township Police Department responded to a call reporting gunshots in the area of the West Gate Shopping Complex. A short time later, a 27-year-old male victim arrived at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township with gunshot wounds to both of his arms. He was treated and released.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau revealed that the victim had arrived at a residence on Hillside Avenue, at which time an individual approached his vehicle and fired at least one round, striking the victim in both of his arms. The victim was able to leave the area and drive himself to the hospital.

Law enforcement identified Brown-Bey as the individual responsible for the shooting, and on January 11, 2024, he was taken into custody by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Lakewood Township Police Department. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.