A Manville resident who was shot with a sawed-off shotgun allegedly lied to police about how he was shot in an effort to protect Vincent "Vinny" Heredia of Paterson.
Vincent "Vinny" Heredia (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)MANVILLE -- A Paterson man has been charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun after he allegedly shot his friend Monday, according to an affidavit filed in Somerset County Superior Court.
The victim allegedly initially told police he was shot by a masked man in an effort to protect Vincent "Vinny" Heredia, 24, who was later charged with third-degree possession of a sawed-off shotgun, third-degree unlawful possession of a shotgun, fourth-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm.
According to the affidavit, on Monday at approximately 12:15 p.m. police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a man bleeding from a gunshot wound at an apartment on South Main Street in Manville.
The victim initially told police that a masked man armed with a shotgun entered the apartment while he was sitting on his couch, shot him and fled. However, police spoke to his girlfriend, who reportedly said she when they spoke about 9:30 a.m. that morning he told her that Heredia was at the apartment. She said she also heard Heredia in the background, according to the affidavit.
Later, a male friend of the victim told authorities that he had received a text from the victim at 12:09 p.m. that showed Heredia holding a sawed-off shotgun with a wooden stock in the apartment, according to the affidavit.
Investigators spoke to the victim at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where he was being treated for a gunshot injury to his right knee and chest.
During questioning, the victim allegedly admitted Heredia was holding the sawed-off shotgun when it accidentally went off. Heredia fled the apartment before police arrived, according to the affidavit. When questioned by police, he allegedly admitted to accidentally shooting the victim.
On Wednesday, a Manville resident found a sawed-off shotgun with a wooden stock in an area behind the victim's residence, it was reported in the affidavit.
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