Police, Fire & Courts

Suspect in Murder of Brick Man at Hookah Lounge Apprehended in Virginia

by
Daniel Nee
April 14, 2023

Eric Manzanares

The man accused in a triple-shooting at a Toms River hookah lounge that claimed the life of a Brick Township man has been captured in Virginia, prosecutors revealed Thursday.

Eric Manzanares, 23, of Asbury Park, a fugitive from justice in the murder of Nymere Tinsley, 25, of Brick Township was apprehended by law enforcement in Prince William County, Virginia on April 7, 2023. Manzanares is presently lodged in the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Manassas, Va., pending extradition to New Jersey.

The Aug. 27, 2022 deadly shooting occurred at the now-shuttered Top Tier Hookah Lounge, then located at 1769 Hooper Avenue in Silverton, at about 1:20 a.m., authorities said.

Responding Officers found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. 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, 29, of Neptune Township, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach, was treated for his injuries and released; and Jamal Bland, 24, of Asbury Park, suffered a gunshot wound to his elbow, and was likewise treated and released.

A “thorough and extensive investigation” by county and local detectives determined that Manzanares was responsible for the shooting of all three victims, prosecutors said in a statement. The same day as the shooting occurred, Manzanares was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. A warrant for Manzanares’ arrest was issued on that date, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database.

Details as to the circumstances of Manzanares’ arrest in Virginia were not divulged.