Two men have pleaded guilty to murder and related charges in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting of a 23-year-old Asbury Park man, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Thursday.

In a hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux, Prince D. Young, 24, and Chyrod M. Freeman, 23, both of Asbury Park, admitted to their roles in the June 2019 shooting death of Jehadje J. McMillian at basketball courts in Asbury Park.

Both Young and Freeman pleaded guilty to the charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Young also pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, while Freeman also plead guilty to second-degree aggravated assault.

In accordance with the plea agreements struck with Young and Freeman, there will be a sentencing recommendation of 20 years in a New Jersey state prison for both men, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring them to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole.

The case background …

Asbury Park police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired in the 1100 block of Atlantic Avenue in the city at 10:44 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Police arrived on scene to find McMillian with a gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township, where he was pronounced dead at 12:14 a.m. of the following day.

Young and Freeman were two of four men who were originally named in a 17-count Indictment on Jan. 14, 2020 for their roles in McMillian’s homicide or other incidents that ushered in a rash of gun violence in Asbury Park during the summer of 2019.

Scimel Jackson, 30, of Jay Street in Lakewood and Jahquan F. Allah, 27, of Asbury Park, were also charged with separate crimes in the indictment, and their cases remain pending.

Jackson is charged with three counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon (hollow point ammunition), third-degree receiving stolen property, and two counts of second-degree certain persons not to have firearms, arising out of events preceding the McMillian homicide.

Allah is charged with first-degree attempted murder as a result of firing a handgun at Prince Young during the shooting incident that resulted in the death of McMillian, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon, and third-degree receiving stolen property.

Sentencing for both Young and Freeman is scheduled for June 24, 2022 before Judge Lemieux, while Allah and Jackson are next due to appear before Judge Lemieux on Feb. 7, 2022 for a status conference.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

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