BERKELEY – Two men have been arrested and charged for multiple offenses in connection to a fatal shooting incident that occurred last month, officials said.
On the evening of March 9, an unresponsive man with a gunshot wound was brought to Community Medical Center. The man, identified as 36-year-old Jimmy Mosley of South Toms River, later succumbed to his injuries.
Police said that Mosley and 40-year-old George Burke, IV of Freehold Borough went to commit a robbery at the home of 56-year-old Craig Dillard of Berkeley Township. At the time, both Mosley and Burke had firearms.
According to detectives, Mosley entered Dillard’s home and started fighting. Throughout the fight, Dillard, who was also armed, fired three rounds at Mosley. Mosley and Burke fled and Mosley was dropped off at Community Medical Center. The Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination and determined the cause of Mosley’s death to be a gunshot wound to the back, piercing the lung and lodging in the nasal cavity, and the manner of death to be homicide.
A search of Dillard’s home revealed that Dillard was in possession of approximately one-half pound of marijuana for distribution purposes, officials said. In addition, it was learned that Dillard destroyed evidence left at his home, and Burke destroyed evidence of his involvement with the robbery.
On April 6, Burke was taken into custody without incident at his home in Freehold Borough by the United States Marshals Service. On April 11, Dillard was taken into custody in Beverly, New Jersey, by Officers from the Edgewater Park Township Police Department.
Dillard was charged with Possession of a Firearm while Engaged in Drug Activity, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Receiving Stolen Property and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Burke was charged with Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Certain Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Burglary and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Both men were transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they will remain lodged pending a detention hearing.
“This was truly a team effort in terms of the depth and comprehensiveness of this investigation. These detectives combed through the evidence and were ultimately able to piece together what transpired in Berkeley Township on the night of March 9,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated. “Law enforcement was able to establish very early on in the investigation that there was no immediate danger to the public. From there, these detectives went to work doing their absolute best to solve these crimes. Every law enforcement officer involved this investigation has my profound gratitude.”
Billhimer and Berkeley Township Police Chief Kevin Santucci commend the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Berkeley Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department, North Hanover Township Police Department, United States Marshals Service, New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, Freehold Borough Police Department, Edgewater Park Township Police Department, and Ocean County Motor Vehicle Services, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
