TOMS RIVER – Three men have been arrested and charged with the murder of 19-year-old Javon Cutler of Bayville which occurred on October 11..
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Police Chief Mitchell A. Little announced that Toms River residents Shadrach Correa, 18, Daivon Sullivan, 18, and Leyron Jones, 23, had been charged with murder in connection with Cutler’s death.
The three defendants were also charged with two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that around 8:15 p.m. on October 11, Cutler, 19, of Bayville, and two friends were attempting to leave Toms River Apartments – located on Main Street in Toms River – when an unknown individual opened fire on their vehicle.
Cutler, who was seated in the rear passenger seat, was struck in the head as a result. The driver of the vehicle drove directly to Community Medical Center to seek medical treatment for Cutler who was subsequently transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center.
He succumbed to his injuries on October 14 and a post mortem examination was performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner on October 15. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of his death to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of his death to be homicide.
Following a three week investigation it was determined that Correa, Sullivan and Jones acted together in carrying out the shooting that killed Cutler. Correa was arrested and charged on October 28, while Sullivan and Jones were taken into custody and charged on October 29.
All three men were transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they are currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Billhimer said, “the investigative efforts leading to the arrest of these defendants were nothing short of outstanding, and the teamwork exhibited by everyone involved – Assistant Prosecutors, Detectives, and Officers alike – truly exemplifies the best in law enforcement.
The Prosecutor added, “this heinous crime was not easily solved, but our team of professionals demonstrated an unwavering commitment identifying and investigating the individuals responsible for this senseless killing and bringing them to justice.”
“The men and women in blue literally worked around the clock for nearly three weeks, putting the pieces of the puzzle together with a singular objective in mind: removing these incredibly dangerous young men from our streets,” Prosecutor Billhimer added.
“The residents of Ocean County can rest easier tonight knowing that Correa, Sullivan, and Jones are behind bars due to the painstaking efforts of our law enforcement community. I am extremely proud to work alongside these selfless men and women, and I commend them, as always, on a job well done,” Billhimer said.
He added, “now, our attention turns to securing justice for Mr. Cutler and his family.”
Chief Little noted that it was “extremely unnerving to have something like this happen in our town. I am so proud of the tenacity and dedication of all of the officers and detectives from all agencies who worked around the clock on this case to restore order and safety to our community.”
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Little acknowledged the work by members of multiple agencies for their collaborative efforts in connection with this wide-ranging investigation which resulted in the apprehension of these three defendants: 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 Township Police Department; Toms River Township Police Detective Bureau; Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit; Toms River Township Special Enforcement Team; Manchester Township Police Department; Barnegat Township Police Department; Berkeley Township Police Department; Seaside Heights Police Department; Brick Township Police Department; Lakewood Township Police Department; Jackson Township Police Department; South Toms River Police Department; 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; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
