Young Men Admit To 2022 Fatal Shooting Of Asbury Park Man, 19

ASBURY PARK, NJ — A jury returned a partial verdict this week against two Asbury Park men for a 2022 murder that took place in the city, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago.

Joseph Argilagos, 18, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Dariel Vernet, 19, plus weapons offenses. This was after a two-week trial.

The jury did not, however, reach an agreement on the charges against co-defendant Lydell Brown.

However, once the jury was dismissed, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, Brown, 20, pled guilty to one count of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, said the prosecutor. Brown admitted that he did in fact conspire with Argilagos to kill the victim, stating that, with knowledge Argilagos had a gun, both men followed the victim to the Frederick Douglas apartment complex with the express intent to shoot and kill him.

Argilagos will face a minimum of 30 years in a state prison. The state will recommend a sentence of five years in prison for Brown. Sentencing in scheduled for March.

Shortly after 5:45 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022, Asbury Park Police responded to a report of gunfire originating from the 100 block of Prospect Avenue, near the intersection with Atlantic Avenue. Upon arrival at the scene, officers encountered Vernet, who had sustained multiple gunshot injuries. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased approximately one hour later.

Argilagos was apprehended just days after the shooting, and Brown was located and arrested in Toms River in May 2023 by members of the Prosecutor’s office, Asbury Park Police and U.S. Marshals.