FREEHOLD, NJ – A Howell man has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for firing a handgun during a late-night incident outside his girlfriend’s home in 2023, authorities said Thursday.
Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley handed down the sentence Tuesday to 47-year-old Pietro A. Ventricelli.
Prosecutors said Ventricelli fired multiple rounds at a pickup truck parked outside the Carrie Drive home after mistaking the situation for a threat.
Late-night gunfire on Carrie Drive
The shooting occurred around 12:30 a.m. on January 15, 2023, when three juveniles visiting the homeowner’s son accidentally triggered a car alarm while exiting their vehicle to meet a rideshare service. Ventricelli, who was inside the home at the time, came outside and opened fire on the rideshare driver’s Dodge Ram 1500, striking it three times.
No one was injured in the incident, and the driver was able to flee the area safely.
Sentencing and charges
Ventricelli received a 12-year sentence for first-degree attempted murder under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, which requires him to serve 85 percent of the term before parole eligibility. He was also given a consecutive five-year term for second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted person.
Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said the case demonstrates how quickly a misunderstanding can escalate into violence.
Prosecutor urges restraint in potential confrontations
Santiago urged the public to call 911 instead of resorting to force when suspecting a theft or disturbance. “The use of deadly force to protect property is never the answer,” he said, emphasizing that this case was not one where deadly force was justified.
Authorities credited Howell Township Police with the swift response and investigation that led to Ventricelli’s conviction.
