Juvenile Charged In West OC Shooting

WEST OCEAN CITY – A Salisbury juvenile was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a shooting outside a West Ocean City restaurant in November and has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and several other charges.

James LaBronk Brumskin, 17, of Salisbury, was arrested at his residence on Wednesday after Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI) detectives were able to connect him to the shooting of Eric Jamar Purnell, 19, of Berlin, at the parking lot of Salvatore’s Restaurant in West Ocean City in November. Both Brumkin and Purnell were attending a party at the restaurant on Nov. 10.

The party was shut down after a minor altercation inside the restaurant and the guests were leaving when Brumskin allegedly fired three shots from a small caliber handgun at Purnell as he walked across the parking lot. One of the bullets struck Purnell in the buttocks and became lodged in his groin area.

The victim was taken first to Atlantic General Hospital and later transferred to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury for surgery.

The investigation pointed to Brumskin as a suspect and he was arrested at his residence in Salisbury on Wednesday. Brumskin has since admitted being involved in the shooting, according to police reports.

Brumskin has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, concealing a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, handgun use in a felony or crime of violence, handgun on person and handgun in vehicle. He has been charged as an adult and is currently incarcerated in the Wicomico County Detention Center.