NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—A young New Brunswick man is recovering at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital after being shot once in the upper chest early Sunday after attending a party at a rented hall on Baldwin Street, according to a police report.

Joel Gonzalez, 25, has since been upgraded to fair condition according to a report in the Home News Tribune.

“A preliminary Police Investigation suggests that Mr. Gonzalez was inside 150 Baldwin Street attending a party prior to the shooting,” New Brunswick police spokesman JT Miller told the newspaper.

“During the party, Mr. Gonzalez became involved in some sort of altercation with individuals who were also attending the party,” the article reads.

Police responding to the scene reported the shooting and called for assistance from emergency medical personnel: “Gunshot victim, 150 Baldwin, Call Ems,” said an officer over the radio, as a woman can be heard crying in the background.

Gonzalez was shot once in the upper chest shortly after 1:00 am following some sort of fight that started in the Former Elks Lodge on Baldwin Street.  The building, also housing a barber shop, has a 200 capacity downstairs bar, often used for parties and other events. 

Police radio place the wounded Gonzalez in the street and its believed what ever incident started in the party before moving or continuing outside.  

“150 Baldwin gunshot to the chest, 150 Baldwin right out in the road.”

Witness in the area at the time of the shooting descried the night as quiet before a shot rang out quickly followed by more than a half dozen emergency vehicles.

“It was one giant blast, huge. It sounded almost like a cannon or maybe 2 shots way too close together. Then everything was quiet again,” a Baldwin Street resident told New Brunswick Today.

The witness said the victim wasn’t moving and was bleeding profusely from the upper chest as he was loaded into an ambulance.

Gonzalez was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he was initially being listed in serious but stable condition.

So far, there have been no arrests made in connection with the shooting and police transmissions give very brief accounts of a possible suspect with NBPD Dispatchers reaching out to Rutgers police as well.

“Rutgers, New Brunswick just had a shooting… Suspect is a Hispanic male wearing a black shirt, possibly a blue Suburban vehicle was involved.  No other description at this time,” said a dispatcher.

However, chatter on the radio suggests a possible witness account the claims Gonzalez knew the person who shot him.

“Eyewitness says he knows who they are,” said one officer.

This is an active investigation and anyone with information regarding the shooting or fight is asked to contact New Brunswick Detective Andrew Weiss at 732-745-5217.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.