Toms River Man Convicted Of Punching, Then Threatening To Shoot, Kill Victim

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man has been convicted of threatening to shoot and kill another man during an incident in July 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Raphael G. Powell, 37, was convicted Thursday following a weeklong jury trial of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, being a certain person not to possess a firearm, unlawful possession of a handgun having previously been convicted of a No Early Release Act (NERA) offense, terroristic threats, possession of hollow-nose bullets, possession of a large-capacity magazine, and possession of fentanyl, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Toms River police were called about 11 p.m. on July 2, 2022, by a man who told them he been going into a home on Rory Road when the suspect, later identified as Powell, approached the victim and and asked why the victim was in the area. Powell then punched the victim in the face, pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim, threatening to shoot and kill him, authorities said.

Another man arrived and the victim was able to leave the area, authorities said.

Toms River police were able to identify Powell as the assailant and arrested Powell outside his home on July 3, 2022, authorities said.

During a search after he was arrested, police found him in possession of a stolen handgun loaded with 17 hollow-nose bullets and 30 wax folds of fentanyl, authorities said.

Powell had pleaded guilty in 2008 to aggravated manslaughter and had served several years in prison as a result, according to a court ruling where he had appealed his sentence.

Powell, who has been in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest, faces a sentence of 20 years to life at the time of his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 1 before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan, who presided over Powell's trial.

Billhimer said the Berkeley Township Police Department assisted in the investigation.