El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en junio 4, 2021, Marcus Samuels, 32, del río South Toms, pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1), ante el Honorable Guy P. ryan, J.S.C., in connection with the shooting death of Willie Love, 27, de Beachwood, that occurred in South Toms River on June 8, 2015. Samuels also pled guilty to a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 y N.J.S.A.. 2C:28-5a(1), as well as an unrelated charge of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b, with regard to an incident that occurred in Seaside Heights on May 3, 2015. At the time of his sentencing on July 26, 2021, the State will recommend a term of ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP), sujeto a los términos de la Ley de No Salida Temprana, NJSA. 2C:43-7.2, as to the Aggravated Manslaughter charge, as well as ten years NJSP on the Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering charge, and five years NJSP on the Aggravated Assault charge. Las oraciones deben ejecutarse simultáneamente..
En Junio 8, 2015, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Officers of the South Toms River Police Department responded to Community Medical Center in Toms River for a report of a male having suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The male was identified to be Willie Love, who later succumbed to his injuries at Community Medical Center.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and South Toms River Police Department revealed that Samuels – who was driving a 2004 Dodge Nitro – pulled alongside a vehicle being operated by Mr. Love which contained three passengers. Samuels then recklessly fired a handgun into Mr. Love’s vehicle, sorprendente señor. Love, which led to his death. Samuels turned himself into law enforcement in the presence of his attorney on June 12, 2015, y ha estado alojado en la cárcel del condado de Ocean desde esa fecha..
While Samuels was detained in the Ocean County Jail pending trial on these charges, he conspired with other inmates to influence a witness into retracting or changing a statement previously provided to law enforcement in connection with the investigation.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor William Porter and Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, así como la Unidad de Delitos Mayores de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del sur de Toms River, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, and New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Science, por sus esfuerzos de colaboración en relación con esta investigación, ultimately resulting in Samuels’ guilty pleas, y pronto su sentencia de prisión estatal.