TOMS RIVER – Three men conspired to gun down a young man, and two were found guilty of murder, police said.
On the night of October 11, 2020, Javon Cutler, 19, of Bayville, and two friends were leaving the Toms River Apartments, when someone opened fire on their car. As a result, Cutler – who was in the rear passenger seat – was hit in the head. The driver of the vehicle went immediately to Community Medical Center. Cutler then was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on October 14, 2020.
The investigation revealed that Shadrach Correa, 19, Daivon Sullivan, 19, and Leyron Jones, 24, all of Toms River, had acted together to plan the shooting.
Sullivan, now 21, and Jones, now 26, were found guilty of the murder itself following a three-week trial, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The jury also found Sullivan and Jones guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Attempted Murder with respect to a second victim, as well as Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Additionally, Sullivan was found guilty of Attempted Murder as to a third victim.
They each face a life in prison during their sentencing scheduled for October 20.
Correa, now 21, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon earlier this year. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8. Correa’s sentencing will be left to the Court’s discretion, Billhimer said.
Billhimer thanked Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke, who tried the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor likewise extended his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit; Toms River Police Department; Toms River Detective Bureau; Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit; Toms River Special Enforcement Team; Manchester Police; Barnegat Police; Berkeley Police; Seaside Heights Police; Brick Police; Lakewood Police; Jackson Police; South Toms River Police; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit; New Jersey State Police; Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office; Ocean County Department of Corrections; New Jersey State Department of Corrections; New Jersey State Police; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collective efforts.
