2nd Man Who Shot At Bicyclist In Toms River Sentenced

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a 2024 incident where he and another man chased and shot at a bicyclist in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Anthony G. Ventrice, 19, was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated assault by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

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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 Ventrice and Anthony M. Zigarelli, 21 — who were 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 pleaded guilty in June before Ryan.

Ventrice's sentence is subject to the terms of No Early Release Act, meaning he has to serve 85 percent of it before he becomes eligible for parole consideration. He also was sentenced to five years in prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility for his guilty plea to possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The sentences will run concurrently, the prosecutor's office said.

Zigarelli was sentenced on Sept. 11 to six years for aggravated assault, subject to the No Early Release Act, and five years with five years of parole ineligibility for his guilty plea to being a certain person not to possess a weapon. His sentences are running concurrently.