Suspect Arrested In Deadly Keyport Shooting Of 20-Year-Old Man

A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged overnight for the murder of a Monmouth County man on Thursday afternoon, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni has announced.

John Curtin, 19, of Woodland Avenue in Keansburg, was charged with first degree-murder and robbery in the shooting and killing of 20-year-old Evan Smutz inside his Center Street apartment in Keyport, according to the MCPO.

Curtin was scheduled for his first appearance at 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon in the courtroom of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman.

“It was hard work and determination by detectives in our Office and at the Keyport Police Department who quickly solved this murder and brought Mr. Curtin to justice for this crime,” Gramiccioni said. “This is a great credit to all of law enforcement and the community.”

Keyport police responded to a 911 call reporting the shooting at 12:48 p.m. at 2 Center Street. Police arrived to find Smutz with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at 1:21 p.m., according to the MCPO.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Keyport Police department determined Curtin arrived at Smutz’s apartment, and while inside, an argument ensued that culminated with Curtin fatally shooting Smutz, according to the MCPO.

Curtin fled the apartment after the shooting. Hours later Curtin surrendered to the New York City Police Department and subsequently transported back to Monmouth County.

Anyone with additional information about this case is urged to call Detective Ryan Mahony of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Sergeant Joe Redina of the Keyport Police Department at 732-264-0706.

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