Asbury Park Teen Pleads Guilty In Shooting Near NJ School

BRICK – An 18-year-old from Asbury Park has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in connection with a shooting near Brick Memorial High School last fall, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced on Thursday.

Alonzo Legrande, 18, of Asbury Park was first charged as an adult with four counts of attempted murder, according to an OCPO release.

Legrande’s guilty plea, and the lesser charge, came as a result of his voluntary waiver from the Family Court’s jurisdiction and his agreement to be charged and prosecuted as an adult, the OCPO said.

At the time of his sentencing on Nov. 20, the OCPO will recommend that Legrande be sentenced to a term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Legrande, who was 17 years-old when the crime occurred, voluntarily waived jurisdiction of the Family Court and agreed to be prosecuted as an adult, the OCPO said.

Another teen who was charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, Billhimer announced. The Brick Township teen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, prosecutors said.

The incident happened on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at approximately 1:45 p.m. when Brick Township police were summoned to the Brick Memorial High School area on a report of a student who had sustained a gunshot wound, the OCPO said.

An investigation revealed that the student was walking home from school with three friends when he was shot approximately one-quarter mile away from Brick Memorial; he then ran back to the school for help, according to an OCPO release.

As a precaution, Brick Township police and school officials locked down the high school, as well as neighboring schools, before determining there was no immediate danger to students, the OCPO said.

The victim was treated at Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township and released.

Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff's Department, through their investigation, reviewed video surveillance footage from nearby residences, the OCPO said.

The video surveillance depicted two teens, including Legrande, together, and in support of one another, in carrying out the shooting, the OCPO said.

Further investigation revealed that Legrande was the individual who fired the weapon, the OCPO said.

He was apprehended on Oct. 23, 2019, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center ever since.

Previous reporting:

• 1 Hurt In Drive-By Shooting In Brick: Police
• Shots Near Brick Memorial High School Prompt Police Response
• Brick's Search Continues For Shooter As Students Return To School
• Brick Shooting: See Mayor Call Suspect 'Scum' After 'Scary Day'
• Drive-By, Shooting Near School Linked, Brick Police Confirm
• 17-Year-Old Charged In Shooting Near Brick Memorial