A Monmouth County jury this week returned a guilty verdict for an Asbury Park man charged with shooting at a city police officer in 2015.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Dante Allen, 24, was convicted on charges of first degree attempted murder, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, cocaine, Allen is facing a sentence of up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” requiring him to serve 85 percent of the 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. He is scheduled to return for sentencing on June 21 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien.
Allen could face an additional sentence of five to 10 years in prison for the second degree weapons offense, and an additional sentence of three to five years in prison on the third degree drug offense.
At trial it was revealed, that on November 4, 2015, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Officer Terrence McGhee observed Allen at the intersection of Boston Way and Atkins Avenue. Upon observing Officer McGhee, Allen pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and walked away from the officer, while clutching something on his left side, under his sweatshirt.
McGhee watched Allen as he walked down the street, continuing to unnaturally clutch the item on his left side. McGhee approached Allen at the intersection of Springwood and Atkins Avenues and asked to speak with him. During the brief exchange, he discovered that the item Allen was clutching was in fact a firearm. Immediately after Officer McGhee located the gun, Allen fled on Springwood Avenue into an open field. As Allen entered the field, he pulled out the gun, turned and faced the officer and shot directly at him, luckily missing the officer.
The case was handled by Monmouth County Assistants Prosecutor Emily Cartmell and Caitlin Sidley.
Allen is represented by Paul Zager, Esq. of Red Bank, New Jersey.
