In the early hours of a summer morning in Bridgeton, New Jersey, a dispute in the parking lot of the Maple Gardens apartment complex turned deadly, claiming the life of 36-year-old Herbert R. Lee Jr. The incident unfolded around 3 a.m. on July 30, 2022, when a fight broke out, punctuated by the sound of gunfire. Lee, a father of six, reportedly stepped in to intervene in the altercation.
According to accounts based on surveillance footage, several people were involved in the fight.
Two men, later identified as 29-year-old Ryan A. Askins and 29-year-old Desmond L. Bethel, both of Bridgeton, were allegedly seen on video with handguns, firing multiple shots into the air. In the chaotic moments that followed, Lee became physically involved in an altercation with Bethel. It was then that Askins allegedly tackled Lee and shot him in the chest. Emergency services were called, and Lee was transported to Inspira Hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
In the immediate aftermath, another man, 22-year-old Kvaughn Walker, was arrested at the scene for possession of a handgun, though authorities later stated he was not involved in the fatal shooting. The investigation quickly pointed to Askins and Bethel as the primary suspects. Warrants were issued for their arrests, with Askins facing charges of murder and weapons offenses, and Bethel charged with weapons offenses. Both men were considered armed and dangerous. Later that same day, police in the nearby city of Millville spotted Askins driving his 2011 Audi A6. A brief chase ensued, but it was terminated for safety reasons as Askins reportedly weaved through traffic at high speeds.
Bethel was arrested at a later date, but Askins remained a fugitive for over six months. In October 2022, a cash reward was offered for information leading to his capture. The manhunt eventually concluded on January 21, 2023, when Askins was apprehended in Georgia through a joint effort by the U.S. Marshals, Georgia State Patrol, and the Clayton County Police Department. He was then subject to extradition back to New Jersey to face the charges related to the death of Herbert Lee Jr.
