Guilty plea in 2013 Asbury killing
Verbal dispute led to shooting of two men on Mattison Avenue
A Freehold Borough man pled guilty on Thursday to killing a man and seriously injuring another in an Asbury Park shooting, and could face at least 17 years in prison before parole eligibility under his plea agreement, according to a news release from acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Jamar S. Walker, 32, pled guilty to one count of first degree Aggravated Manslaughter and one count of second degree Aggravated Assault, according to the release. Sentencing is scheduled for June 19, 2015 before Judge Francis J. Vernoia.
On April 18, 2013, Asbury Park police responded to reports of shots being fired in the 1400 block of Mattison Avenue at about 7:22 p.m., the release stated. Police arrived to find two victims lying in the street — Orlando Rowe, 30, of Bridgeport, Conn, and a 23-year old Freehold Borough man.
An investigation revealed that Walker and the two victims met earlier in the day in Neptune Township and traveled to Asbury Park where a verbal dispute occurred while standing outside of a car, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. During the argument, Walker drew a gun and shot the two victims repeatedly. Rowe died at a local hospital later that night. The other victim was also transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his extensive injuries.
As part of the plea agreement, the State will recommend Walker be sentenced on the Aggravated Manslaughter charge to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, 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, the release stated.
Walker later turned himself in at the Freehold Borough Police Department, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, where he remains held on $1.5 million, with no 10 percent option, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vernoia.
The following is the full text of the news release from the Prosecutor’s Office:
A Freehold Borough man admitted he shot two men in Asbury Park in 2013, killing one and leaving another seriously injured, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Jamar S. Walker, 32, of Freehold Borough, pleaded guilty Thursday, before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr., to one count of first degree Aggravated Manslaughter and one count of second degree Aggravated Assault. Sentencing is scheduled for June 19, 2015 before Judge Vernoia.
As part of the plea agreement, the State will recommend Walker be sentenced on the Aggravated Manslaughter charge to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, 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. The State will also recommend Walker serve 10 years in state prison for the Aggravated Assault charge, subject to NERA requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for parole to run concurrent with the sentence imposed on the Aggravated Manslaughter charge. Walker will also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
Asbury Park police responded to reports of shots being fired in the 1400 block of Mattison Avenue, in Asbury Park, about 7:22 p.m. on April 18, 2013. Police arrived to find two victims lying in the street — Orlando Rowe, 30, of Bridgeport, Conn, and a 23-year old Freehold Borough man.
A joint investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Asbury Park Police Department and Freehold Borough Police Department revealed that Walker and the two victims met earlier in the day in Neptune Township and traveled to Asbury Park where a verbal dispute occurred while standing outside of a car. During the argument, Walker drew a gun and shot the two victims repeatedly. Rowe died at a local hospital later that night. The other victim was also transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his extensive injuries. Walker later turned himself in at the Freehold Borough Police Department. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, where he remains held on $1.5 million, with no 10 percent option, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr.
The case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Jacquelynn Seely and Tara Wilson. The defendant is represented by Robert Gaynor, Esq., of Freehold.
