Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and South Toms River Police Chief William Kosh announced on Wednesday that Mr. James Bivins, 26, of Irvington, has been charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and being a Certain Person Not to Have a Weapon.
These charges arise from a shooting that occurred in South Toms River on July 10th, 2019.
According to police, South Toms River Police were summoned to a residence on Charles Drive for a report of shots fired. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, South Toms River Police, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit recovered several shell casings at the scene.
Police say the shooter was not identified at that time.
Approximately three months later, on November 21, 2019, Bivins was arrested in South Toms River pursuant to an unrelated motor vehicle stop and found to be in possession of Heroin, Cocaine, and a loaded .40 Caliber Taurus Semi-Automatic Handgun.
Police say Bivins was arrested and charged with narcotics and weapons offenses at that time.
A further investigation and testing of the handgun found to be in Bivins’ possession during the motor vehicle stop indicated that it was the weapon utilized in connection with the July 10, 2019 shooting in South Toms River police said in a statement.
Bivins is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail, pending a detention hearing.