Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: 24-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter in 2019 Manalapan Shooting Death

An Ocean County man pleaded guilty on Thursday to aggravated manslaughter and related charges for his role in the 2019 shooting death of a Manalapan man, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Friday.

Gerard A. Grimes Jr., 24, of Jackson, pleaded guilty to: first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc C. LeMieux. Grimes admitted to shooting five times at the three men who were chasing after him. One of the shots struck and killed 43-year-old Narcisco Rodriguez-Corona. 

Grimes is expected to return for sentencing on Nov. 20. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a 12-year sentence in a New Jersey state prison on the aggravated manslaughter charge, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring him to serve 85 percent of his imposed sentence before becoming eligible for release on parole.  Grimes would also be under parole supervision for five years following his prospective release from state prison. There will also be a recommendation for a seven-year state prison term to run concurrent with the other sentence included in his plea agreement.

The case involving Grimes co-defendants, Zoey S. Monte, 21, and Tyler J. Martucci, 23, both of Jackson, are still pending.

The case background …

The case stems from an Oct. 5, 2019 call reporting shots fired and a victim. Manalapan police officers responded to the 9:34 p.m. call reporting a fight at 25 Fawn Run in the township.

Several minutes later, police received another call for a confirmed shooting victim. Manalapan police officers arrived on the scene and discovered Rodriguez-Corona suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead.

After receiving initial information regarding the incident, police began to search the area. A few hours later, police attempted a motor vehicle stop of Grimes’ vehicle, but he failed to stop. Thereafter, Grimes fled the vehicle. Monte and Martucci were also in the vehicle and were arrested at that time. A short time later, Grimes was found in the back yard of a neighborhood residence.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Manalapan Township Police Department revealed Grimes came to the Manalapan residence armed with a handgun. Grimes attempted to enter the residence while Monte and Martucci remained outside. Residents of the home were alerted to Grimes’ presence and attempted to stop him from entering, resulting in a brief confrontation outside the home.  Shortly thereafter, a second encounter occurred nearby, where Grimes ultimately shot the victim. Grimes, Monte and Martucci all fled the area.

Monte was indicted on charges of: one count of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, one count of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of third- degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Martucci was indicted on: one count of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, one count of second- degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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

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