Freehold, NJ – A Brooklyn man will serve 30 years in state prison for the 2024 killing of a Monmouth County man outside a Hazlet business, Acting Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.
According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Gaetano S. Scannavino, 26, was sentenced Wednesday by Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn. The sentence is subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, meaning Scannavino must serve 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole.
Scannavino pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter on December 16, 2025, admitting his role in the shooting death of Anthony Hill, 42, of Eatontown. “This sentence brings a measure of justice to the victim’s family and underscores our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable,” Santiago said in a statement.
Victim found near Route 36 business
On the morning of September 14, 2024, at around 7:18 a.m., officers from the Hazlet Police Department responded to the parking lot of 270 Route 36 for a report of an unresponsive man. When they arrived, they discovered Hill deceased on the ground near a dumpster, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Hazlet Police Department quickly identified Scannavino as the suspect. He was arrested in Brooklyn on September 19, 2024, by members of the New York City Police Department’s 61st and 62nd precincts.
“This was a senseless act of violence that took the life of a man and deeply affected his loved ones,” Santiago added. “Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement agencies in both New Jersey and New York, the individual responsible is now being held to account.”
Prosecutors commend law enforcement cooperation
Assistant Prosecutors Joseph Cummings, Director of the Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section, and Christopher Ammon of the Trial Division handled the case for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Scannavino was represented by defense attorney Meghan J. Decker of Long Branch.
Key points:
- Gaetano Scannavino sentenced to 30 years for 2024 Hazlet shooting death of Anthony Hill.
- Prosecutor Santiago says the case shows a firm stance on violent crime.
- The Brooklyn man was arrested by NYPD within five days of the homicide.