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An Asbury Park man was found guilty Wednesday of the 2013 murder of Thomas Sudano Jr, 36, of Brick, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Friday.

Jahmir K. Bouie, 21, of Atlantic Avenue in Asbury Park was charged with second degree robbery, first degree felony murder, and first degree murder, according to a news release issued by spokesman Charles Webster.

From the news release:

Near 12:26 a.m. July 27, 2013, officers with the Asbury Park Police Department were dispatched to the area of 1100 Atlantic Avenue for a report of an unconscious male lying in the street. Upon arrival, police found Sudano in cardiac arrest and exhibiting no neurological responses.

Sudano died on July 29, 2013, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and neck and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

During the trial it was learned that Sudano took a taxi from Brick to Asbury Park to meet with Bouie shortly before midnight in order to purchase illegal drugs, officials said. Bouie and co-defendant Spencer Young met with Sudano at a McDonald’s on Route 35 in Neptune before the two men lured him to an Asbury Park housing complex with the intentions of robbery.

A witness testified he observed both Bouie and Young with the victim around midnight, officials said. The witness testified that, without provocation or warning, Bouie and Young assaulted Sudano, punching, stomping and kicking him.

Sudano attempted to flee from his attackers but fell to the ground unconscious, officials said. As Sudano lay motionless, Bouie and Young continued their assault, kicking and punching Sudano about his head and body. They stole Sudano’s cellular phone and money before fleeing the area and leaving him lying unconscious in the street.

Young was found in possession of Sudano’s cellphone in Asbury Park three days after the assault. Cellular telephone records revealed the phone was in constant use by Young from the time of the assault until he was taken into custody.

The investigation also revealed that Bouie used his girlfriend’s vehicle to transport Sudano to the scene of the crime and used her cellular telephone to make arrangements with the victim prior to his murder.

Bouie’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Reisner.

On Sept. 9, Young was sentenced to 50 years, subject to the No Early Release Act [NERA] provision, requiring him to serve at least 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Hoda Soliman and Lawrence Nelson.   Bouie was represented by Robert J. Konzelmann, Esq. of Howell.

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