FREEHOLD – According to court documents, after a 4-year investigation, an Asbury Park man has admitted his role in a March 2013 murder. He now faces a 15-year prison term when he returns on March 22, 2018, for sentencing before a Monmouth County Superior Court Judge, announced Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
In pleading guilty Wednesday to first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter, Dominique Moore, 25, of Asbury Park, admitted to having in his possession a loaded 9mm handgun, pointing the gun at the victim, pulling the trigger and killing Daniel Graves, 23, also of Asbury Park.
As part of his plea agreement, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Moore receive a term of 15 years in New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release on parole. Once released, Moore will be on parole supervision for five years. The plea agreement was reached after full consultation with, and with the approval of, the victim’s family.
Moore’s guilty plea is the result of a 4-year joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department.
Asbury Park Police responded to the corner of Bangs and Dewitt Avenues after receiving a report of multiple shots fired around 8:20 p.m. on January 10, 2013.
The investigation revealed that Graves left a pizzeria in Asbury Park followed by a small group. Shortly after that, Moore shot Graves and fled the scene on foot. Police found Graves lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
EMS transported Graves to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township where he was pronounced deceased at 8:57 p.m.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Meghan Doyle and Emily Cartmell.