Suspect in Toms River Hookah Lounge Murder Extradited to N.J.

Eric Manzanares (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

The man accused of murdering a Brick Township resident at a Toms River hookah lounge has been extradited back to New Jersey to face charges, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Eric Manzanares, 24, of Asbury Park, has been extradited from Prince William County, Va., to Ocean County in connection with the shooting death of Nymere Tinsley, 25, of Brick, which occurred in Toms River Aug. 27, 2022. Manzanares is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Manzanares is suspected of being behind the fatal 1:20 a.m. shooting at the Top Tier Hookah Lounge, which had been located at 1769 Hooper Avenue. The business had already been facing numerous municipal code violations and has since shut down.

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Responding officers who had been called to the scene found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds, prosecutors said. Tinsley suffered a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Two other victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of their injuries: Anthony Miller, 30, of Neptune Township, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach, and was treated for his injuries and released; Jamal Bland, 26, of Asbury Park, suffered a gunshot wound to his elbow, and was likewise treated and released.

Detectives from Toms River and the county prosecutor’s office, as well as a CSI unit from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, conducted the investigation and allege that Manzanares was responsible for the shooting of all three victims. A motive has not been divulged.

Manzanares was charged with murder, attempted murder and numerous weapons charges later that day, but could not be immediately located. Manzanares was apprehended by law enforcement on April 7, 2023 in Prince William County, Va., where he was lodged in the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Manassas, Va., and finally extradited to Ocean County on Wednesday.