Reward offered for leads to suspect in shootings
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

Anthony J. Sims

RED BANK - In an effort to entice those who may know more information about the whereabouts of the 19-year-old male who allegedly shot two men recently in the borough, a longstanding Red Bank social club has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and capture.

The Red Bank Men's Club, together with a private donor, is offering the reward for information about Anthony J. Sims' whereabouts in an effort to keep violence out of the borough, especially on the west side, where the Nov. 26 shootings took place.

"We hope someone will come forward with some information that will lead the police to this person," Jay Ham, president of the Red Bank Men's Club, said Monday. "We've been very active in the community since 1949 [and] we just want the community to be safe."

Ham sent out a letter Monday about the club's initiative and said the $1,000 was just a number someone had thrown out and then members agreed upon it.

Authorities are still seeking Sims in connection with the shootings of the two men, who sustained life-threatening injuries and had to undergo surgery, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Sims is being charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder and three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to the Prosecutor's Office. The three counts of each charge stem from the existence of an uninjured third victim who was shot at but not struck, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Red Bank Police Chief Mark Fitzgerald said at the Dec. 12 Westside Community Group meeting that one of the victims is out of the hospital and is recovering at home, while the other one has a little bit of a longer road to go and is still in the hospital.

Fitzgerald continued, "We were able to solve the shootings very quickly because of the major cooperation of residents."

He also cautioned residents that if they spot Sims, not to confront him because he is considered armed and dangerous.

"Anyone with more information regarding Sims' whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately so that he can be swiftly and safely taken into custody," the Nov. 27 press release from the Prosecutor's Office stated.

The offering of a reward is the latest development in the wake of the shootings at Montgomery Terrace housing complex, located on Tilton Avenue.

Community members previously gathered at the housing complex Dec. 7 for a candlelight vigil in a show of solidarity for those injured and even for Sims.

"We're concerned about the safety of all the people on the west side," said Ham.

Ham said one of the goals of the Red Bank Men's Club is service to the community and the group is using the reward as a way to serve the community amid safety concerns on the west side.

According to Ham's letter, "We support and commend the Red Bank Police Department in their efforts to keep Red Bank a safe place to live and grow."

Sims is described as a black male, weighing approximately 160 pounds, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Anyone will information regarding Sims' current whereabouts and/or the shootings is asked to immediately call Detective Jeff Wilbert of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at (800) 533-7433 and/or Detective Robert Clayton of the Red Bank Police Department at (732) 530-2719.