Bridgeton Gunman Sentenced to 45 Years After Deadly 2022 Apartment Complex Shooting
A New Jersey man convicted in the fatal shooting of a Bridgeton father of six has been sentenced to 45 years in prison, bringing a major criminal case from 2022 to a close.
Ryan A. Askins, 32, of Bridgeton, received the sentence on Thursday after a jury found him guilty earlier this year in the death of Herbert R. Lee Jr. The case stemmed from a violent incident that occurred during the early morning hours of July 30, 2022, at the Maplewood Gardens apartment complex in Bridgeton, Cumberland County.
According to authorities, police responded to reports of a large fight and gunfire at approximately 3 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Lee suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite emergency efforts, the 36-year-old victim was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Investigators later pieced together the events leading up to the shooting using surveillance footage, cellphone recordings, and videos shared on social media. The evidence provided law enforcement with a detailed account of the confrontation that unfolded at the apartment complex.
Court records showed that during the disturbance, Askins tackled Lee and then shot him in the chest. Following the shooting, prosecutors said Askins fled the scene in a vehicle.
Authorities attempted to stop Askins later that same morning as he drove away from an apartment complex in Millville. However, he refused to pull over, leading police on a pursuit that reached speeds of roughly 80 miles per hour. Officers eventually ended the chase because of safety concerns.
After escaping law enforcement, Askins remained a fugitive for nearly six months. His time on the run ended in January 2023 when he was located and arrested in Georgia.
Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, family members maintained that Lee had been trying to break up a fight when the violence erupted. His death left behind a grieving family, including six children, a fiancée, and a sister.
The case proceeded to trial, where a jury found Askins guilty of first-degree aggravated manslaughter. He was also convicted on second-degree charges involving unlawful handgun possession and possession of a handgun by a person prohibited from having one because of a prior conviction.
During sentencing, Superior Court Judge Joseph Chiarello imposed a 45-year prison term for the aggravated manslaughter conviction. Prosecutors said Askins was classified as a persistent offender, a designation that can result in a longer sentence under New Jersey law.
Under the sentence, Askins must serve 85 percent of the 45-year term before becoming eligible for parole. He also received a concurrent 10-year sentence on the conviction for being prohibited from possessing a handgun. The remaining firearm-related charge was merged into the aggravated manslaughter conviction.
The sentencing marks the latest chapter in a case that drew significant attention in Cumberland County because of both the deadly shooting and the lengthy manhunt that followed. For the victim’s family, the court’s decision closes a legal process that began nearly four years ago after a tragic night that claimed the life of a father of six.
Sources:
- Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office
- Superior Court of New Jersey
- Bridgeton Police Department
- Official court records and sentencing proceedings
