By BRIAN DONOHUE
A story in the Asbury Park Press described the brutal September 14, 2024 killing in the parking lot of the Holly Hill Motel on Route 36 in Hazlet, where Hill had driven Scannavino and his girlfriend.
Prosecutors said Scannavino shot Hill in the back of the head, pumping shots through the headrest. He then ran Hill’s body over with the car before driving to Brooklyn, where he was arrested on September 19 by the New York City Police Department.
“Anthony was just doing his job that night, taking a person to where they had to go, and because of other people’s choices, he’s no longer here,” the paper quotes the victim’s wife, Emily Vasquez, as she addressed Judge Butehorn before he imposed the sentence on Scannavino.
The paper, citing police documents, also reported that Hazlet police had questioned Scannavino earlier in the night and confiscated a hollow-point bullet from him but did not place him under arrest.
Here’s more from the app.com reporter Kathleen Hopkins’ story:
“Keyport police didn’t find a gun on Scannavino in the earlier incident, despite searching him, according to defense attorney Meghan Doyle. Scannavino said he had given the gun to his girlfriend “because police don’t search women,” Doyle said.
Scannavino’s claim that it was his girlfriend who brandished the weapon when it was time to pay the cab driver and that the gun went off as he struggled to get it from her.
The defense attorney argued for a term lesser than the 30 years agreed upon in a plea bargain with her client. She said Scannavino has had “a horrible life,” being exposed to illegal drugs as well as physical and emotional abuse at a young age.”
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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