Friday, April 10, 2009

DOVER: A 60-year-old Dover man was charged with aggravated assault in connection with a shooting the night of April 9 on Fox Hill Drive, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., said today.

Dover police were called at approximately 10:14 p.m. Thursday about a shooting on Fox Hill Drive, with the victim suffering a shot in the head. Upon the arrival at the scene, police found a woman slumped over the front seat of a 2000 BMW. The victim was bleeding profusely from the mouth.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit and Intelligence Crime Task Force responded along with the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section.

The female victim, 40, of Morristown, was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital by New Jersey State Police helicopter, and she remains there in critical condition, having suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

As a result of the joint investigation by the prosecutor's office, along with Dover Police Department and the Morris County Sheriff's Office, Henry Telfair, of Dover, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault; possession of a firearm with purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another; possession of a handgun without first having obtained a permit to carry.

Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto set bail at $250,000 and sent Telfair to the Morris County Jail.

Both the victim and Telfair were familiar with one another. A firearm was recovered at the scene. The circumstances that led to the victim and Telfair getting together remain under investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Dover Police Department and the Morris County Sheriff's Office, Bianchi said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200, the Dover Police Department at 973-366-0302 or the Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers Program at 973-267-2255.

Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.