Hopson, Jr. pleads to manslaughter in shooting
Prosecutor seeks 20 year sentence with no early release
Gregory Hopson, Jr.,, 25, pled guilty Tuesday to first degree aggravated manslaughter in connection with the October 11, 2011 shooting death of Asbury resident RyeKill Agostini, 30, according to a news release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Hopson also pled guilty to an unrelated third degree theft charge concerning an unrelated incident that occurred two hours earlier at the Cameo Bar on Main Street, the release stated.
Hopson is the son of former Board of Education President Gregory Hopson, Sr., who was an unsuccessful city council candidate last year.
Hopson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, with the Prosecutor’s Office recommending a 20 year sentence and requiring that at least 85 percent be served, according to the release. The Prosecutor’s Office will recommend an additional three year sentence on the theft charge, the release stated.
Since his arrested in April, 2012, Hopson has been held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold, on $3 million bail.
On the day of the incident, police responded to a call at approximately 2:11 a.m. reporting a disorderly male at a pizza parlor, when gunshots were heard from the 100 block of Ridge Avenue, according to the release. The responding officer found Agostini in a vehicle but unresponsive, and he was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where he died the next day, the release stated.
A subsequent investigation revealed Hopson shot Agostioni following a verbal dispute, leading to Hopson’s arrest on April 14, 2012, according to the release.
The following is the full text of the release from the Prosecutor’s Office announcing the plea:
An Asbury Park man pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to the 2011 shooting death of another city man, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Gregory Hopson, Jr., 25, pleaded guilty before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ronald Lee Reisner, J.S.C.,to one count of first degree Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 11, 2011 shooting death of RyeKill Agostini, 30, also of Asbury Park.
Asbury Park police was responding to a call around 2:11 am reporting a disorderly male at Mr. Pizza when gunshots were heard from the 100 block of Ridge Avenue. The responding officer found Agostini seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle but unresponsive. He was transported to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, where he died for his injuries the following day. An autopsy determined the cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head.
A subsequent investigation revealed Hopson shot Agostioni following a verbal dispute, leading to Hopson’s arrest on April 14, 2012.
Hopson admitted in court he saw Agostini in a car near the intersection of Bangs Avenue and Ridge Avenue, shot him, and later learned he killed his victim. The handgun was never recovered.
Hopson also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of third degree Theft stemming from an incident that occurred in the Cameo Bar in Asbury Park, less two hours prior to the shooting of Agostini.
Hopson is scheduled for sentencing on May 16, 2014, before Judge Reisner. At sentencing, the Prosecutor’s Office will recommend Hopson receive a term of 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA) on the first degree aggravated manslaughter charge. NERA requires a defendant serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before being eligible for parole. The state will also recommend an additional three years in state prison on the third degree Theft charge. The plea agreement was reached after consultation with, and the approval of, the victim’s family.
Hopson has been in custody in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, since his arrest on April 14, 2012. He is being held on $3 million bail as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully, J.S.C.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Diane Aifer and Paul Alexander. Hopson is represented by Allison Tucker, Esq., of Freehold.
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