A 24-year-old man charged with the 2015 shooting of an Asbury Park police officer was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Friday’s sentence came after Dante C. Allen, 24, of Asbury Park, was convicted in May following a two-week trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien. The jury found Allen guilty on charges of: first-degree attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine).

Allen’s 18-year sentence is subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. Allen will also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.

At trial it was revealed, that on Nov. 4, 2015, at 7:15 p.m., Asbury Park Police Officer Terrence McGhee observed Allen at the intersection of Boston Way and Atkins Avenue in the city. Upon observing Officer McGhee, Allen pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and walked away from the officer, while clutching something on his left side, under his sweatshirt. 

Officer McGhee watched Allen as he walked down the street, continuing to unnaturally clutch the item on his left side. Officer McGhee approached Allen at the intersection of Springwood and Atkins avenues and asked to speak with him. 

During the brief exchange, he discovered that the item Allen was clutching was in fact a firearm. Immediately after Officer McGhee found the gun, Allen fled on Springwood Avenue into an open field. As Allen entered the field, he pulled out the gun, turned and faced the officer and shot directly at him, missing the officer.

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