Toms River Man Wanted for Murder: Have You Seen Him?

Douglas Cobb, 51, of Toms River, also known as Douglas Green and nicknamed "Bootknock,” was last seen driving a black 2016 Acura MDX, with New Jersey license plates T93YJL

Toms River Man Wanted for Murder: Have You Seen Him?

Authorities have charged a 51-year-old Toms River man in connection with the fatal shooting of Bruce Gress in the parking lot of a Wawa on Route 37 and are asking the public for assistance in locating him.

Douglas Cobb, who also goes by Douglas Green and the nickname “Bootknock,” was last seen driving a black 2016 Acura MDX with New Jersey license plate T93YJL, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer urged anyone who knows Cobb’s whereabouts to encourage him to surrender peacefully. Authorities identified Cobb as a suspect on Sept. 19, one day after emergency responders found Gress suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The shooting was reported around 7:20 a.m. at the Wawa near the intersection of Route 37 and Garfield Avenue. Gress was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Witnesses reported a significant police presence in the area that morning. The shooting did not affect operations at Toms River schools, and the Wawa appeared to be open and operating normally later in the day.

An investigation involving the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit led authorities to identify Cobb as the suspect.