Executive Summary
- A Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted three men in connection with the fatal shooting of Chrystofer A. Whyte.
- Jahbron J. Goff, 18, is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses.
- Dwayne Exilus and Isaiah Z. Walker face charges of conspiracy, hindering apprehension, and weapons possession.
- The incident occurred at the Chelsea Avenue beach area of Pier Village in Long Branch.
A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned a seven-count indictment against three individuals charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a New Jersey man at Pier Village in Long Branch, according to local authorities. The indictment formally charges the defendants with various offenses ranging from first-degree murder to conspiracy and weapons violations.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced that the defendants are Dwayne Exilus, 19, Isaiah Z. Walker, 19, and Jahbron J. Goff, 18. Goff, whose identity was previously withheld due to his age at the time of the incident, faces the most severe charges, including first-degree Murder and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, all three men are charged with second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, third-degree Hindering, and fourth-degree Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on the evening of June 12. According to Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) officials, members of the Long Branch Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at the Chelsea Avenue beach, located between the shoreline and the boardwalk of Pier Village, at approximately 8:58 p.m. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered an adult male victim suffering from a single gunshot wound.
Authorities identified the victim as 18-year-old Chrystofer A. Whyte, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. An investigation led by the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau and the Long Branch Police Department identified Goff as the individual allegedly responsible for shooting Whyte. Prosecutors state that the investigation further revealed that Exilus and Walker, along with another juvenile, were involved in the unlawful possession of firearms and efforts to conceal Goff’s involvement in the crime.
Judicial Next Steps
The return of this indictment marks a significant procedural advancement, moving the case from the investigative phase to the Superior Court for arraignment and potential trial. The inclusion of first-degree murder charges indicates the severity with which the state is pursuing the alleged shooter, while the conspiracy and hindering charges against the co-defendants highlight the legal consequences for those accused of aiding in the commission or concealment of violent crimes. It is important to note that all individuals named in the indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
