FREEHOLD – A Neptune City man was sentenced to an aggregate total of 34 years in prison for his October conviction in Ocean County for the 2012 attempted murder of two men outside a popular Asbury Park bar, announced Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Tyrice L. Berry, 24, of Neptune City, was sentenced to the maximum custodial sentence of 24 years in a New Jersey State Prison for his conviction of first degree crime of Attempted Murder. The sentence is subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the prison term imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
The sentenced handed down by Ocean County Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski also includes a consecutive 3-year sentence, subject to NERA for second degree Aggravated Assault.
For his convictions of second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second degree Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit, Berry was handed an additional 8 years in state prison, pursuant to the “Graves Act” requiring him to serve a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of 42 months.
In October, Berry was found guilty of two counts of first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Aggravated Assault, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second degree possession of a Handgun without a Permit. The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Asbury Park Police Department in connection with the October 19, 2012, shooting incident outside of the Cameo Bar on Main Street in Asbury Park.
Patrol officers from the Asbury Park Police Department were in the area of Main Street and Sunset Avenue at approximately 1:23 a.m., when they heard and responded to shots fired outside of the Cameo Bar, located at 1213 Main Street. Upon arrival, police identified a 30-year-old male and a 28-year-old male, who had both sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Both men were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township, where they received treatment for their injuries.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Asbury Park Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the incident and determined the victims were seated in a parked vehicle when they were fired upon by two individuals, one of whom was identified as Berry. A thorough forensic investigation resulted in the recovery of key pieces of evidence that were later linked to the defendant.
The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer.
Berry is represented by Melissa Barbier, Esq., of Toms River.
