Hunt for armed man on tricycle after shooting with Tuckerton cop

TUCKERTON — Schools in two southern Ocean County towns were placed on lockdown because police were searching for a gunman who was in a shootout with police.

By mid afternoon, the search had extended as far north as Union County after investigators learned that the man — who at one point had made a getaway on an adult tricycle — may have gotten an Uber ride up the Garden State Parkway to the train station in Union Township.

Ocean County prosecutors say the shooting happened near the intersection of Route 9 and North Green Street after a traffic stop about 10:22 a.m.

Prosecutors say the officer involved in the shootout was not injured and the gunman fled on foot.

The suspect, wearing a blue hooded jacket, was later seen riding a blue adult tricycle. Police said he had a handgun.

According to an alert issued by Little Egg Harbor police, all schools in the Tuckerton/Parkertown area were on lockdown, including George Mitchell Elementary School, Tuckerton Elementary School and Pinelands Junior High and High School.

At 2:30 p.m., authorities were still asking the public to call 911 if the man is seen.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ