Gunman Loose After Hotel Shooting: 5 Must-Read NJ Stories

Good evening, New Jersey Patch readers! We've assembled some of the most share-worthy stories from the state for today, just for you.

Here are the top five stories from the Garden State:

1. You're in for a paws-itively fun weekend in Ocean City as dogs are encouraged to come to the Boardwalk for the annual "Dog Day." (Read more on Patch.)

2. A dead baby whale washed up in Middletown's Leonardo State Marina Wednesday, and remains there as of Thursday morning, said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. (Read more on Patch.)

3. A man who made a racist tirade toward his Mount Laurel neighbors that went viral will go to prison for the 2021 incident.(Read more on Patch.)

4. Several Summit Public Schools were under a shelter-in-place order Wednesday after police spotted a suspicious person "with what appeared to be a long gun over his shoulder" walking near a school building, police said. (Read more on Patch.)

5. Authorities are searching for a gunman accused of shooting a man while at the Roxbury Motel on Wednesday evening. (Read more on Patch.)