FREEHOLD – An Asbury Park man charged with shooting at a city police officer in 2015 was sentenced to 18 years in state prison today, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Officials say Dante C. Allen, 24, was convicted in May following a two-week trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien. The jury found Allen guilty on charges of first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and third degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Cocaine).
This morning Judge O’Brien sentenced Allen to 18 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. Allen will also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
Officials say at trial it was revealed, that on November 4, 2015, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Asbury Park Police Officer Terrence McGhee observed Allen at the intersection of Boston Way and Atkins Avenue in the city.
Upon observing Officer McGhee, Allen pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and walked away from the officer, while clutching something on his left side, under his sweatshirt.
Officer McGhee watched Allen as he walked down the street, continuing to unnaturally clutch the item on his left side.
Officer McGhee approached Allen at the intersection of Springwood and Atkins Avenues and asked to speak with him.
During the brief exchange, he discovered that the item Allen was clutching was in fact a firearm. Immediately after Officer McGhee located the gun, Allen fled on Springwood Avenue into an open field.
As Allen entered the field, he pulled out the gun, turned and faced the officer and shot directly at him, luckily missing the officer.
The case was handled by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Emily Cartmell and Caitlin Sidley.