Arrests Made In Murder Of Bayville Man In South Toms River

Authorities have charged a Bayville man with the murder of a 27-year-old man in South Toms River earlier this week, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

Marcus Samuels, 26, is lodged in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $1 million bail, said Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Prosecutor’s Office.

Samuels was charged with murder, one count of possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes and one count of possession of certain persons prohibited from possession of a firearm in the death of Wille Z. Love III, 27, of Bayville, he said.

“It is alleged Mr. Love died as the result of a single shot fired by Marcus Samuels into the vehicle the victim was driving in the area of Dover Road and the Garden State Parkway in South Toms River,“ Della Fave said.

Toms River police responded to Community Medical Center in Toms River at 10:55 p.m. on June 8 on a report of a male gunshot victim. Love was pronounced dead at 11:27 p.m., Della Fave said.

Preliminary information indicted that the incident had taken place in South Toms River. The Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s CSI and South Toms River police began an investigation, he said.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge James Blaney issued warrants for both Samuels and Jennifer Rauscher, 21, Bayville. Samuels turned himself in to the Prosecutor‘s Office on June 12, Della Fave said.

Rausher is charged with the second degree hindering the apprehension of Samuels. She was taken into custody at her parents’ Bayville home. Her bail was set at $100,000 cash. She was released on bail, he said.

Ocean County Medical Examiner Ian Hood determined that Love died of the gunshot wound that entered his shoulder and chest and ruled the death a homicide, Della Fave said.

Photo credit: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.