A Jackson Township man has plead guilty for shooting and killing a Manalapan resident in October of 2019 and faces 12-years in prison upon sentencing this November 20th, Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni announced on Friday afternoon.

Gerard A. Grimes Jr., 24, plead guilty to first degree Aggravated Manslaughter and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and also admitted shooting five times at the three men who were chasing after him and one of the shots struck and killed 43-year-old Narcisco Rodriguez-Corona.

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”, 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.

Prosecutor Gramiccioni said the cases for Grimes' co-defendants, Zoey S. Monte, 21, and Tyler J. Martucci, 23, both of Jackson, are still pending.

Manalapan police officers responded on October 5, 2019 to a call reporting a fight at 25 Fawn Run.

Several minutes later, police received another call for a confirmed shooting victim.

Manalapan police officers arrived on 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 deceased.

Police began to then search the area and a few hours later, attempted a motor vehicle stop of Grimes’ vehicle, but he failed to stop and when he did, he ran on foot.

Monte and Martucci were also onboard the vehicle and were arrested at that time.

Grimes was found a short time later in the backyard of a neighborhood residence.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Manalapan Police revealed Grimes came to the Manalapan residence armed with a handgun.

He tried to enter the residence while Monte and Martucci remained outside.

The residents inside the home were alerted to Grimes’ presence and tried to stop him from entering which led to a brief confrontation but a second one ensued and Grimes shot Corona.

All three suspects then 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.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Lawrence Nelson and Merlin Thomas.

Grimes is represented by Glenn Kassman, Esq. of Tinton Falls.

Monte is represented by John Perrone, Esq., of Long Branch.

Martucci is represented by Albert Kapin, Esq., of West Orange.

Vin
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