Eatontown Man Indicted For Shooting At Police Officers During Drugstore Robbery

FREEHOLD- A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted an Eatontown man for shooting at police officers after he fled the scene of a December 2016 pharmacy robbery, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Aaron Riley, 32, Wedgewood Circle, Eatontown, was indicted on first-degree armed robbery, first-degree attempted murder, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth degree aggravated assault, third- degree aggravated assault - pointing a weapon at law enforcement officers and fourth-degree resisting arrest.

While the officers were responding, Riley was inside the pharmacy demanding prescription narcotics from employees and brandishing a handgun. Eatontown police arrived on scene with Riley inside the pharmacy, but he fled the scene through a rear door with several officers in pursuit.

"While Riley was fleeing on foot, he fired at several of the officers," Gramiccioni said. "Riley then made his
way to a getaway vehicle. Riley drove away, nearly striking another Eatontown police officer."

That officer fired several rounds at the Riley, striking the vehicle as the vehicle fled the scene. The abandoned getaway vehicle was located at the Stony Hill Apartments in Eatontown.

Detectives subsequently received information from the New York Police Department that Riley was in their jurisdiction with a gunshot injury to his leg.

The investigation continued in New York City, where Riley was eventually taken into custody the
following day. He was extradited to New Jersey and remains in custody. None of the officers
were injured.

If convicted, Riley faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the first degree crimes of armed
robbery and attempted murder. Those sentences would be subject to the
“No Early Release Act” and would require Riley to serve 85% of any sentence before being
eligible for parole. The crimes of the second degree involving the possession and use of a
firearm carry an ordinary maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
If convicted of the second degree weapons offenses, Riley faces a sentence of
five to ten years in prison, with a mandatory period to be served without parole pursuant to the
“Graves Act.”

If convicted of a third degree crime, Riley faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.
If convicted of a fourth degree crime, Riley faces up to 18 months in state prison.

Riley is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold
Township, on $2 million bail. He is expected to appear before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent Falcetano for an arraignment on June 12, 2017.

Image: Patch file photo.