Long Branch Man Faces Up To 15 Years In State Prison For Street Shooting

 A 21-year-old Long Branch man pleaded guilty on Thursday to killing another city man on Liberty Street in Long Branch on September 21, 2013, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Dante Strong, 21, pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated manslaughter, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, both second degree offenses, in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Adrian Anderson, he said.  

Strong told Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman he was involved with a larger group of individuals who were engaged in arguments with other groups on Liberty Street on Sept. 21, 2013. 

Strong said that during one of these confrontations a female relative of his was injured. Strong obtained a handgun and fired in the direction of a group who were standing on the front porch of 135 Liberty Street. He then admitted his shots caused the Anderson death, Gramiccioni said.

The State will recommend Strong be given a 15-year term in state prison, and that he be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole. He would also be subject to 5 years of parole supervision upon his release.  

"After consultation and consent of Adrian Anderson’s family, the State determined this plea was in the interest of justice," Gramiccioni said.  

Strong is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $1,450,000 cash bail.  He is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Bauman on October 7.

Officers from the Long Branch Police Department responded to 135 Liberty Street after receiving 911 calls reporting a shooting at 2:29 a.m. on Sept. 21.  They found Anderson on the front porch, unconscious and bleeding from several gunshot wounds.  He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Gramiccioni said.

A joint investigation was conducted by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.  Strong was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a firearm for the shooting death of Adrian Anderson, he said.