Gunman gets 15 years in party shooting death
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Monday, June 02. 2008 and is filed under Current of Egg Harbor Township,Current of Pleasantville 
MAYS LANDING – A Superior Court Judge sentenced a 22-year-old Pleasantville man to 15 years in prison Friday, May 30 for aggravated manslaughter in connection with a shooting death at a party in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said.
Gregory Martinez pleaded guilty in April to killing Roberto “Ray” Diaz, a 19-year-old Atlantic Cape Community College student, outside a party July 1, 2005. Martinez must serve 85 percent of the prison term before parole eligibility. The defendant would be subject to five years of parole supervision upon release, Housel said.
During the emotional sentencing, the victim’s and the defendant’s families spoke of their sorrow and how life will be without their loved ones.
First Assistant Prosecutor Murray Talasnik called the shooting the “perfect storm of bad decisions.” He said a mother allowed her underage daughter to have a party attended by at least 100 people, many of whom did not know each other. Groups of teens from Pleasantville and Mays Landing showed up uninvited, and a fistfight ensued. Some people had knives, and the fight spiraled out of control.
Martinez could have retreated, Talasnik said. But instead he left the party, went to a vehicle, pulled out a gun and went back and shot Diaz in the back. When he fell to the ground, Martinez stood over him and fired several more shots, the prosecutor said, noting that six shell casings were found at the scene.
The defendant’s family described Martinez, who had no prior adult criminal record, as a loving, kind and good young man.
Prior to being sentenced, Martinez apologized to the Diaz family. At times throughout the proceeding, family members on both sides wept.
Defense attorney Jonathan Diego told the court that his client had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and was under the influence the night of the killing.
“Unfortunately, today’s youth is a bit out of control,” Superior Court Judge Albert Garofolo said at the sentencing. “Good boy or not, he did a bad thing, and the time will be deserved.”
Gregory Martinez pleaded guilty in April to killing Roberto “Ray” Diaz, a 19-year-old Atlantic Cape Community College student, outside a party July 1, 2005. Martinez must serve 85 percent of the prison term before parole eligibility. The defendant would be subject to five years of parole supervision upon release, Housel said.
During the emotional sentencing, the victim’s and the defendant’s families spoke of their sorrow and how life will be without their loved ones.
First Assistant Prosecutor Murray Talasnik called the shooting the “perfect storm of bad decisions.” He said a mother allowed her underage daughter to have a party attended by at least 100 people, many of whom did not know each other. Groups of teens from Pleasantville and Mays Landing showed up uninvited, and a fistfight ensued. Some people had knives, and the fight spiraled out of control.
Martinez could have retreated, Talasnik said. But instead he left the party, went to a vehicle, pulled out a gun and went back and shot Diaz in the back. When he fell to the ground, Martinez stood over him and fired several more shots, the prosecutor said, noting that six shell casings were found at the scene.
The defendant’s family described Martinez, who had no prior adult criminal record, as a loving, kind and good young man.
Prior to being sentenced, Martinez apologized to the Diaz family. At times throughout the proceeding, family members on both sides wept.
Defense attorney Jonathan Diego told the court that his client had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and was under the influence the night of the killing.
“Unfortunately, today’s youth is a bit out of control,” Superior Court Judge Albert Garofolo said at the sentencing. “Good boy or not, he did a bad thing, and the time will be deserved.”
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