3 From Ocean County Indicted In Manalapan Murder: Prosecutor

MONMOUTH COUNTY – Two men and a woman were indicted Tuesday for their roles in the October shooting death of a New Jersey man that apparently resulted form a botched burglary, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni has announced.

Gerard A. Grimes Jr., 23, of Jackson, has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Narciso Rodriguez-Corona, 43, of Manalapan. On Tuesday, Grimes was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree felony murder and several gun and tampering charges, according to the MCPO.

Zoey S. Monte, 20, of Jackson was arrested after she turned herself into authorities at the Manalapan Police Department on Monday. Monte was indicted on one count of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and several gun charges, according to the MCPO.

Tyler J. Martucci, 22, also of Jackson, is currently be held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms
River on separate, unrelated charges. Martucci was indicted on one count of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and several gun charges.

The indictments come three months after the Oct. 5, 2019 murder at 9:34 p.m. when Manalapan police officers responded to a report of a fight at 25 Fawn Run in the township, according to the MCPO.

Several minutes after the call came in, police received another call for a confirmed shooting victim. Manalapan police officers arrived on scene and discovered Rodriguez-Corona suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the MCPO.

Rodriguez-Corona was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead, according to the MCPO.

The investigation revealed Grimes, Monte and Martucci all came to the Manalapan residence
armed with a handgun. Grimes attempted to enter the residence while Monte and Martucci remained outside, according to the MCPO.

Residents of the home were alerted to Grimes’ presence and attempted to stop him from entering, resulting in a brief confrontation outside the home. Shortly thereafter, a second encounter occurred nearby, where Grimes ultimately shot the victim. Grimes, Monte and Martucci all fled the area, according to the MCPO.

Police were quickly dispatched to the area and encountered the victim, who was suffering from life-threatening injuries. After receiving initial information regarding the incident, police began to search the area, according to the MCPO.

A few hours later, police attempted a motor vehicle stop of Grimes’ vehicle, but he failed to stop.
Grimes then fled the vehicle. Monte and Martucci were also inside the vehicle and were
arrested at that time, according to the MCPO.

A short time later, Grimes was found in the backyard of a neighborhood residence. Grimes and Monte were soon lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township.

Grimes has been detained pending trial since his arrest on Oct. 5, 2019. Detention hearings for Monte and Martucci are scheduled for Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon.