Long branch man indicted in 2023 asbury park triple shooting — Asbury Park Police Dept. Photo by APPD.

FREEHOLD, N.J. — A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned a nine-count indictment against a Long Branch man in connection with a July 2023 shooting in Asbury Park that left one man dead and two others injured, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday.

Michael Sally, 19, was indicted on charges that include first-degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, and gang criminality. The indictment also includes two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, as well as charges for possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and receiving stolen property.

The incident occurred on the night of July 3, 2023, when Asbury Park police officers responded to a reported shooting at the Asbury Park Gardens apartment complex on Atlantic Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers found three adult male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where two were treated and later released. The third victim, 21-year-old Lativity Lyons of Asbury Park, was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m. A fourth individual, who was reportedly the intended target of the shooting, was unharmed.

An extensive investigation led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department identified Sally as a suspect. He was apprehended on June 5, 2024, in Long Branch by members of the Prosecutor’s Office, the Asbury Park Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Sally is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where he remains incarcerated following a successful motion by the State to deny bail.

A second individual involved in the case has been charged as a juvenile, with their case pending in family court. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.