A quiet night in Manchester Township took a bizarre and dramatic turn when a man shot himself with a stolen firearm, then attempted to deceive authorities with a fabricated story.
Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced that Richard Rokicki, 58, of Whiting, has been charged with multiple firearm-related offenses, including Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, Possession of Stolen Property, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Hindering Apprehension. The charges stem from a shocking incident that unfolded in the early hours of Sunday.
At approximately 2:40 a.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department rushed to a residence in Whiting after receiving a distressing report—a man had suffered a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers discovered Rokicki bleeding from a gunshot wound to his leg. He was immediately transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for emergency treatment.
When investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Manchester Township Police Detective Bureau questioned Rokicki about the incident, he spun an elaborate tale. According to Rokicki, a friend had been visiting his home when he asked to hold the friend’s firearm. He claimed that while handling the weapon, he accidentally shot himself. In a frantic response, Rokicki told detectives, his friend quickly collected the gun and fled the residence in a vehicle. He even provided officers with a description of both the mysterious friend and the car he supposedly escaped in.
Detectives, however, weren’t convinced. Armed with a court-authorized search warrant, they combed through Rokicki’s home and made a discovery—a handgun reported stolen in North Carolina along with a spent shell casing.
As the investigation deepened, the truth emerged: there was no friend. Rokicki’s entire story had been a fabrication. In reality, he had been alone in possession of the stolen firearm when he accidentally discharged it into his own leg.
Once Rokicki was treated and released from the hospital, authorities wasted no time in bringing him to justice. He was taken into custody without incident upon his return home and transported to Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
Authorities have yet to determine how the stolen gun made its way from North Carolina to Rokicki’s hands. That, too, remains under investigation.