Charges Upgraded For Fatal Fight In Lacey

LACEY, NJ — Authorities upgraded a man's charges to aggravated manslaughter Thursday for a deadly fight outside Lacey's Lakeside Diner. A medical examiner concluded that Edward Chandler killed an elderly man by punching him in the head Wednesday night, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Robert Clarke, 78, died hours after an argument had taken place inside the diner between members of a motorcycle club, according to the OCPO. The diner owner subsequently asked everyone involved to leave, and the fight spilled into the parking lot.

Chandler was initially charged with aggravated assault. But authorities expected charges to steepen once they got the results of the post-mortem. The OCPO announced the aggravated manslaughter charge Thursday night.

"The medical examiner determined the cause of the victim’s death to be closed head injury secondary to a fall, and the manner of death to be homicide," said Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

The incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when Lacey police got a 911 call an unresponsive man, the OCPO said.

Clarke was struck after the fight took place inside the diner: the same people got involved in a second argument in the parking lot, the OCPO said.

During the argument, Chandler struck Clarke with a closed fist, according to authorities. Clarke, of Whiting, fell on the ground and sustained severe head trauma.

Officers found Clarke unconscious and bleeding from an apparent head wound, the OCPO said. He was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center at was pronounced dead at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Chandler, 54, of Manalapan, remains in Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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