Neptune City Man Guilty in 2012 Murder Try Outside Asbury Bar

By Patch Staff

ASBURY PARK, NJ - A Neptune City man was recently found guilty of attempted murder and weapons charges in connection with the October 2012 shooting of two man outside the now defunct Cameo Bar on Main Street. The conviction came in the Toms River courtroom of Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski where the trial was moved from Monmouth County because of a judicial conflict. Gizinski is scheduled to sentence Tyrice L. Berry, 24, on Jan. 24 to a possible 40 years in prison on the two attempted murder charges alone. He faces an additional 10 years for possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a handgun without a permit and aggravated assault. The aggravated assault charge requires he serve at least 85 percent of the term under the state's No Early Release Act. The weapons charges - also second-degree - are governed by the Graves Act in which Berry must serve at least half his term or 42 months, whichever is greater, before he can be considered for release. Authorities also would require Berry to serve five years on parole after his release.

According to the announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, the charges were leveled after a joint investigation by the Prosecutor's Office and Asbury Park police in connection with the Oct. 19, 2012 shooting of two men who were not identified by authorities. The victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where they were released after treatment. On the night of the shooting, law enforcement was quick to the scene after Asbury Park officers happened to be on patrol near Main Street and Sunset Avenue and heard the gunshots outside the bar, then located at 1213 Main Street. When police got to the scene shortly before 1:30 a.m., they found a 28-year-old man and a 30-year-old man both bleeding from multiple bullet wounds, according to testimony presented during the six-week trial in which Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer represented the state and lawyer Melissa Barbier defended Berry. During the investigation, authorities determined the two victims happened to be seated in a parked car when two other people opened fire. Berry was subsequently identified but the second man has not been charged.

Berry spend the last week in October pleading guilty to an unrelated racketeering conspiracy charge in connection with Asbury Park's Operation Dead End in which 53 people including Berry were charged in connection with a series of crimes and offenses in 2013 and 2014 some of which were gang related. Berry faces seven years in prison in that case, authorities have said.

Meanwhile, anyone with information about the bar shooting should contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Capt. Jeffrey Wilbert at 1-800-533-7443 or Asbury Park Police Det. Javier Campos at 732-744-1300.

The jury rendered the unanimous decision.

Photograph by Rick Bowmer/Associated Press