Cops: Toms River Man Shot off Finger in Dispute With His Mother Over Drinking

Toms River police say a township man shot off his own finger in a dispute with his mother over excessive drinking.

Police were called to a residence on Mobile Lane at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday night, at which point Officer Frank Moschell and township EMTs found a 43-year-old man who was missing part of his left index finger, police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

It was determined, Stocco said, that the man was involved in a dispute with his 65-year-old mother about his excessive drinking when he became upset and left the residence, then entered a makeshift cloth shed toward the rear of the property.

"He intended to make a loud noise in order to get his mother’s attention," Stocco said, so he placed a shotgun shell in a hollow metal pipe, then used a hammer and screw to strike the pipe.

The resulting explosion removed his finger, according to police.

The names of the man and his mother, who lived together in the home, were not released by police due to medical confidentiality laws, Stocco said.

The man was taken to Kimball Medical Center for treatment and further evaluation.

The incident remains under investigation and no charges have yet been filed, said Stocco.