PERTH AMBOY – A few weeks ago there was a shooting that took place in the early morning of 7/25/14. According to some reports, the incident took place at the Z Bar located on New Brunswick Avenue. At the 8/11/14 Caucus Meeting Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz appeared before the Council to clear up some facts concerning the incident.

Chief Ben Ruiz

Ruiz said, “Some media reports were inaccurate.” According to Police Chief Ruiz, “Shots were fired and there were 5 separate leg injuries. Those who sustained those injuries sought medical treatment on their own. The Prosecutor’s Office is now handling this case. The incident did not happen in the bar which was not open at that time. The shooting occurred at 1:15 a.m. and not 3 a.m.”

In the 7/30/14 issue of the Amboy Guardian, we reported that the shooting occurred somewhere between 1:30 a.m. – 3 a.m. and that it was unclear if it took place inside the Z Bar or at a nearby parking lot.

During the public portion Businessman and Resident David Caba made reference to the shooting. He brought up the quality of life issues. He asked the Council if they were aware of the shooting that took place 2 to 3 weeks ago. Some of the Council Members had puzzled looks on their faces. Caba told them, “That is your job to protect us (the residents). This shooting was not reported in the papers. We are losing quality of life. I am not blaming the police. We keep building and not getting the services. I went to Long Branch where there was a developer who had a dream for that town and they got their money’s worth. Developers were selling dreams in Perth Amboy that never came true.”

A resident who has lived in Perth Amboy for 22 years and who resides on Maple Street  complained about a liquor store on the 200 Block of Smith Street. This resident said, “Since April of this year, there has been constant noise going on, especially on Sundays from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. or sometimes up until midnight. This bar has a backyard where there’s a D.J. playing loud music. There must be between 40 – 50 people back there during that time. I call the police and sometimes they come and sometimes they don’t. This happens every day but the weekends are very bad.”

Councilman Fernando Irizarry voiced concerns about the same bar. He noticed that there is a wooden fence and wanted to know if they had a permit for that enclosed area. “Heaven forbid that there is an emergency.”

Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz said, “We have given out summons and will do more research and do an investigation.”