ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Police have arrested a Florida man in connection with a shooting that left a Philadelphia man seriously injured.
Patrol officers responded to the 2400 block of Pacific Avenue at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 after a ShotSpotter alert detected gunshots in the area.
K9 Officer Robert Reynolds was stopped by Collin Forrestel, who claimed he was shot in the face.
Officers were also alerted to another man who was struck by gunfire in the unit south block of Georgia Avenue.
Forrestel was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, where it was determined he was not struck by gunfire.
The second man, 38, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was seriously injured by gunfire to his leg.
Officer John Bell applied a tourniquet, and the victim was transported to the medical center with a non-life-threatening injury.
An investigation led by detectives of the Violent Crimes Unit determined that Forrestel and the victim became involved in a verbal dispute.
Forrestel shot the victim, who punched Forrestel in the face.
Both men fled in different directions.
Forrestel discarded the handgun in a construction dumpster, which was located by Sergeant James Hurley.
The investigation was aided by public and private security cameras and facial recognition software through the department’s records management vendor, ProPhoenix.
The handgun had been stolen from a business by Forrestel in Galloway Township earlier in the day.
Forrestel was additionally charged with theft by the Galloway Police Department.
Collin Forrestel, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a prohibitive device and certain person not to possess a weapon.
Forrestel was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Violent Crimes Unit at 609-347-5858 or submit a text anonymously to tip411 at 847411 beginning the text with ACPD.
