3 Men Charged With Murder In Toms River Parking Lot Shooting

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Three Toms River men have been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Berkeley Township man on Oct. 11, authorities announced Thursday night.

Shadrach Correa, 18, Daivon Sullivan, 18, and Leyron Jones, 23, all of Toms River, have been arrested and charged in the killing of Javon Cutler, 19, of Bayville, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitchell A. Little said.

Cutler and two friends were leaving the Toms River Apartments on Main Street about 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 11 when someone began shooting at the vehicle, Billhimer said. Cutler, who was sitting in the back seat, was struck in the head. The driver of the vehicle drove him straight to Community Medical Center, and then Cutler was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he died Oct. 14.

The Ocean County medical examiner ruled Cutler died from an intermediate-distance gunshot wound to the head following an Oct. 15 autopsy, Billhimer said.

The investigation found that Correa, Sullivan and Jones "acted together and in support of one another" in the shooting, Billhimer said.

Correa was arrested Wednesday, and Sullivan and Jones arrested Thursday, he said. All three are charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, he said. All are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

"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," Billhimer said.

"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," he 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," he said.

"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," Billhimer said. "I am extremely proud to work alongside these selfless men and women, and I commend them, as always, on a job well done. Now, our attention turns to securing justice for Mr. Cutler and his family."

"It is extremely unnerving to have something like this happen in our town," Little said. "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."

Billhimer and Little said the following agencies and units assisted in the investigation:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Narcotics Strike Force, High Tech Crime Unit, Regional SWAT Team and Victim Witness Advocacy Unit;
• Toms River Police Department, its Detective Bureau, Emergency Services Unit and 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.

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