Murder Charge Filed In Fatal Hookah Lounge Shooting In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An Asbury Park man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting in August at a Toms River hookah lounge, authorities announced Thursday.

Eric Manzanares, 22, of Asbury Park, is not yet in custody, a joint news release from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little said. He is considered a fugitive and his name has been entered in the National Crime Information Center database, they said.

Manzanares has been charged with murder in the shooting death of Nymere Tinsley, 25, of Brick, along with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, the news release said.

The charges are in connection with the Aug. 27 shooting at Top Tier Hookah Lounge, 1769 Hooper Ave., the release said. Police responding to the 1:20 a.m. report found three people had been shot. Tinsley had a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen and died at the scene, authorities said. Anthony Miller, 29, of Neptune Township, had been shot in the stomach and Jamal Bland, 24, of Asbury Park, had been shot in the elbow, authorities said.

Miller and Bland were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where they were treated and later released.

Top Tier Hookah Lounge was shut down permanently two days after the shooting; Toms River officials said there had been multiple complaints about the lounge before the shooting. Read more: Fatal Shooting Prompts Hookah Lounge Closure By Toms River Officials

Investigators determined Manzanares shot all three men, authorities said.

"Great teamwork has been exhibited by all of the respective law enforcement agencies and officers involved in this investigation," Billhimer said. "Our focus now is to find Eric Manzanares and bring him into custody."

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Denis Mitchell of the prosecutor’s office at 732-929-2027, ext. 2476, or Toms River Police Detective Jennifer Grob at 732-349-0150.

The prosecutor’s office Major Crime and High Tech Crime units, the Toms River Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the Asbury Park Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service have combined on the investigation.