A 17‑year‑old boy in Toms River was hospitalized after being shot in the face at the Ocean County Mall, officials said. Police responded around 8:10 p.m. Tuesday to the mall on Hooper Avenue and found the teen with a single gunshot wound.

He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and is listed in stable condition. Investigators said the teen was sitting in the mall’s common area when another individual confronted him and attempted to start an altercation.

As the person walked away, he turned back and fired several shots, striking the victim once in the face, according to officials. The shooter fled in what investigators believe was a gray sedan.

“This appears to be a targeted shooting, and there is no known danger to the public at this time,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation. Officials urged anyone with information to contact the prosecutor’s office.