Did cop’s or suspect’s bullet hit 8-year-old? Answer won’t be fast

It could be some time before investigators know who fired a bullet that grazed an Asbury Park girl while she was inside her home during a gun fight between a police officer and a suspect.

Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Marc LeMeiux said bullets were fired both by suspect Dante Allen and Asbury Park officer Terrence McGhee in the incident. When a bullet is fired, a shell casing stays with the gun and the bullet that goes in the direction of where it was shot.

"When a bullet goes through the barrel it has lancing grooves. You send the bullet for analysis to a ballistics lab and they are able to determine which gun the bullet came from — which takes time," LeMeiux said. He estimated the investigation as to whose bullet it was could take a few weeks.

Lemeiux says investigators have video that shows it was Allen who fired first at McGhee and prompted the chase after leaving his car during a routine stop. The video, however, will not be released to the public until the prosecutor's investigation is complete, LeMeiux wrote in an email.

Allen faces attempted murder and weapons charges in connection with the Wednesday evening incident and is being held on $1 million bail.  McGhee is on a paid leave of absence.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has said Allen ran off during a “lawful investigatory stop” by McGhee Wednesday. McGhee chased Allen, and Allen opened fire, Gramiccioni has said.

One of the bullets went through the wall of a Borden Avenue home, striking and grazing  the 8-year-old in the forehead. The girl, whose identity has not been disclosed by police, received stitches for her injuries.

McGhee is on paid administrative lead in accordance with police protocol pending an investigation.

Cassie Jones, the mother of the 8-year-old girl has not yet returned to her Borden Avenue home. "It's supposed to be safe there, but it's not, it's just not," Jones told ABC 7. The family is currently staying in a motel.