HOWELL — Police say shots were fired behind a township home early Saturday, at a structure housing pit bulls, none of which were injured.

In a statement on Facebook Sunday, Howell Township Police Chief Andrew Kudrick Jr. said police were initially called to 200-block Lanes Mill Road at about 3:14 a.m. for a report of shots fired in the area. When they arrived, officers talked to the 38-year-old resident who said that he heard gunshots behind his home.

The man told police that he "saw sparks" and then saw two black men run from behind the house. The resident said he chased to two men to the front of the house, where they ran toward a waiting silver Honda Civic being driven by a third black male, authorities say.

According to police, the resident told investigators that just before the men fled, one of them fired a single shot in his direction.

"Evidence at the scene supports this claim," the police chief said in a statement.

Police say the rounds that were fired at the rear of the house "were into a structure housing pi tbull dogs." None of the dogs were struck by gunfire, according to police

Arriving officers established a perimeter around the house and searched for suspects, but none were located, the chief said in the statement. The incident is being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office along with the Monmouth County SPCA.

Thomas Nuccio, spokesperson for the Monmouth County SPCA, said none of the dogs were removed from the residence.

Police are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information to contact the Howell Township Police Department at 732-938-4111 or send police a message on Facebook. Tips can also be sent anonymously to Crimestoppers at 1-800-671-4400 or
text "MONMOUTH" plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES).

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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