. — Township Police Ptl.

James Stuart

is a friend of the man he’s accused of shooting in the head Jan. 5, Stuart’s attorney, John Eastlack said on Tuesday.

Eastlack dubbed the incident - which left 27-year-old David Compton of Woodbury in critical condition - an accident, but he declined to elaborate.

“This event was a terrible accident, and my client is praying his friend fully recovers,” the attorney said. “That’s really his focus right now.”

Stuart, 29, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault in the incident police said occurred in his home around 5 a.m. Compton suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to Cooper University Hospital.

Eastlack also declined to specify how the officer plans to deal with the charges.

Stuart, a five-year veteran of the force, posted $10,000 bail and was released. He was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the case.

Eastlack also declined to specify how the officer plans to deal with the charges.

Under the New Jersey Criminal Code, a person can be convicted of aggravated assault when he or she “recklessly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon “ or “points a firearm...at or in the direction of another, whether or not (he) believes it to be loaded.”

The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office hasn’t specified whether this shooting is alleged to have fit such scenarios.

The office has not confirmed whether the gun used was Stuart’s service weapon.

Compton’s family released a statement Monday thanking police and the prosecutor’s office for its efforts in the case, and asking the media to respect the family’s privacy.

Contact Joe Green at 856-845-3300 ext. 253 or jgreen@southjerseymedia.com