Lakewood man indicted for murder in February 2021 shooting in Coventry Square

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 12, 2022, Jahvontae Debose, 25, of Lakewood, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on the charge of Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a, in connection with the shooting death of Dajour Randolph in Lakewood Township on February 21, 2021.  Debose was also indicted on charges of Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a; Being a Certain Person not to Possess a Firearm in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b; Possession of a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; Possession of a Defaced Firearm in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3d; Possession of Hollow Nose Ammunition in violation of  N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3f.; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11)a; and Possession of Tetrahydrocannabinol with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(13).

On February 21, 2021, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Lakewood Township Police were summoned to the area of Tudor Court in response to a 911 call regarding a male who had collapsed in the middle of the road.  Responding Officers found Dajour Randolph, 20, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.  Mr. Randolph was transported to Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, in Lakewood, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.  On February 22, 2021, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Randolph’s body.  The Medical Examiner determined the cause of Mr. Randolph’s death to be multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of death to be homicide.

Debose was initially charged on February 23, 2021 with the weapons and narcotics offenses.  He was taken into custody without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force in Pleasantville, New Jersey, following a motor vehicle stop on that date.  Debose was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since the date of his arrest. 

An extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, between February 21, 2021 and February 25, 2021, revealed that Debose was, in fact, the individual responsible for Mr. Randolph’s death.  Dubose was served on February 25, 2021, in the Ocean County Jail with a complaint charging him with the murder of Mr. Randolph.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman and Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center, Brick Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Pleasantville Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service, for their collective and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to today’s indictment.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.