Police Say Suspect Discarded Loaded Handgun While Fleeing Police Officers; Five-Year Sentence Handed Down In Atlantic County Superior Court

Friday, March 20, 2026, 9:15 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PLEASANTVILLE, NJ.- A Pleasantville man will serve time in state prison following his conviction for possessing a firearm for an unlawful purpose in connection with an incident that authorities say endangered a retail worker and prompted a swift police response.

     On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Javont Bell-Lowe, 19, of Pleasantville, New Jersey, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison, with one year of parole ineligibility, after pleading guilty to second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

Incident At Dollar General Sparks Police Response;

     According to law enforcement officials, the case stems from an incident that occurred on August 13, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., when Police Officers with the Pleasantville City Police Department were dispatched to a report of a man pointing a handgun at a clerk inside a Dollar General store.

     Authorities did not publicly disclose the motive behind the alleged threat, but the report triggered an immediate response due to the potential for violence in a public retail setting. 

Suspect Located And Pursued On Foot;

     Responding Police Officers quickly canvassed the surrounding area and identified Bell-Lowe walking northbound on South New Road, carrying a fanny pack believed to contain the firearm described in the initial report.

     Police stated that upon noticing officers, Bell-Lowe discarded the fanny pack and fled on foot, prompting a brief pursuit.

     The abandoned bag was recovered by officers and found to contain a Glock 36 handgun (.45 caliber) loaded with one hollow-point round and five ballpoint rounds, according to investigators.

Arrest Made At Busy Intersection;

     Bell-Lowe was subsequently apprehended at the intersection of South New Road and Elm Avenue by Pleasantville Police Officers without further incident.

     No injuries were reported in connection with the initial confrontation at the store or during the suspect’s apprehension. 

Serious Charges Reflect Public Safety Concerns;

     Second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose is a serious offense under New Jersey law, typically applied when authorities believe a weapon was intended to be used to threaten or harm another individual.

     The presence of both hollow-point and standard ammunition in the recovered firearm, coupled with the alleged act of pointing the weapon at a civilian, were key factors in the prosecution of the case.

Investigation And Prosecution;

     The case was investigated by the Pleasantville City Police Department, which handled the initial response, suspect identification, and arrest.

     Court proceedings concluded on March 12, 2026, with a sentencing in Atlantic County Superior Court in Mays Landing, New Jersey, formally resolving the matter approximately seven months after the incident.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher and is based on official law enforcement statements and court-reported sentencing details. At the time of publication, no additional information regarding motive or victim impact statements had been released. Englebrook Independent News will update this report should further verified details become available.