Grisly Details In Alleged Murder At Long Branch Restaurant

LONG BRANCH, NJ - Authorities have arrested a 40-year-old city man and charged him with first-degree murder after fatally shooting an Oakhurst man in the head at a local restaurant, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Miguel Leal Camara is charged in the death of the Marco Antonio Rosa Moreira, 45. Camara walked into the Bom DMais luncheonette and pizzeria at 545 Broadway around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday and approached a table where Moreira was sitting with Camara's ex-girlfriend and several members of her family, in violation of an existing restraining order, Gramiccioni said.

Camara then fired a gun at Moreira, striking him in the head. A struggle ensued between Camara, other members of Moreira’s party, and another restaurant patron. Camara also tried to kill his former girlfriend, but was unsuccessful. She was uninjured, the prosecutor said.

The ex-girlfriend and the others then tried to subdue and hold Camara until Long Branch Police arrived on scene. Moreira was pronounced dead at 3:38 p.m. at the scene, the prosecutor said.

When police arrived they found several people involved in a "violent" struggle with Camara, including trying to take his gun away from him.

"As the officer tried to apprehend Camara, he attempted to grab the officer’s firearm, but was unsuccessful in doing so," Gramiccioni said. "Other officers quickly arrived, and Camara was taken into custody without further incident."

Camara was also charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, disarming a law enforcement officer, and contempt - violating a domestic violence restraining order, the prosecutor said.

Camara faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted of murder.

If convicted of attempted murder, Camara faces 20 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole if convicted of attempted murder. Both the murder and attempted murder charges are subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act," which means he would have to serve 85 percent of his sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison, Gramiccioni said.

Camara faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the weapons charges and disarming a law enforcement officer and 18 months in prison for violating the restraining order.

Camara is slated to for a first appearance this afternoon before Superior Court Judge Judge David F. Bauman, where he will be formally presented with his charges.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Long Branch Police Department are conducting the investigation.

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