TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two men have pleaded guilty in connection with a 2024 incident where they chased and shot at a bicyclist in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.
Anthony M. Zigarelli, 21, and Anthony G. Ventrice, 19, pleaded guilty Monday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan in the incident that happened in Toms River, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
The incident happened in the area of Camino Medio and Camino Verde shortly after 4 p.m. on May 14, 2024, the prosecutor's office said. A man was riding his bicycle through the area and rode past two people — later identified as Zigarelli and Ventrice — standing outside a vehicle, authorities said.
As the victim rode past, Ventrice pulled out a handgun and began firing. Then he and Zigarelli got in the vehicle and drove past the bicyclist, with Zigarelli firing additional shots, the prosecutor's office said.
The bicyclist was not hit by any of the shots and was uninjured in the attack but authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots, the prosecutor's office said.
Ventrice, who was 17 at the time, was charged May 15, 2024, with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, on a juvenile complaint; he was arrested May 22, 2024 in Lakewood, authorities said.
Ventrice ultimately was waived up to adult court, the prosecutor's office said.
Zigarelli was charged with attempted murder, being a certain person not to possess a weapon, and unlawful possession of a weapon on May 28, 2024, and arrested May 29, 2024, authorities said.
Both have remained in custody since they were arrested, with Ventrice moving to the Ocean County Jail on May 30, 2025, authorities said.
Zigarelli pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and being a certain person not to possess a weapon, and Ventrice pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, the prosecutor's office said.
Both are scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 14.
Prosecutors will be seeking 10 years in prison on the aggravated assault charge subject to the No Early Release Act and five years on the weapons charge for Zigarelli, with the sentences to run concurrently, the prosecutor's office said.
Prosecutors will be seeking a seven-year sentence for Ventrice, subject to the No Early Release Act, they said.
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