ASBURY PARK – A 16-year-old from Howell was charged with murder in relation to the shooting death of Christian Lahens on March 23.
Police said that Lahens, 24, was killed inside his DeWitt Avenue home at around 11:30 p.m.
After a lengthy investigation, police have charged the teenager and Jamir Styles, 20, with a last known address of Asbury Park with first degree murder, first degree conspiracy to commit murder, second degree unlawful possession of a handgun and second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The juvenile is also facing an attempted murder charge in relation to a shooting at the same location on October 29, 2019, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. During the October 29, 2019 shooting, no one was injured.
Additionally, a Lakewood 19-year-old, Jayson Freeman, was charged with hindering apprehension for aiding the shooters.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
The investigation revealed that the juvenile and Styles went to the victim’s home with weapons and fired into the building.
Styles is alleged to belong to the gang G-Shine Blood, involved in drug dealing. The motive is believed to be the elimination of a rival dealer.
Styles’ arrest was part of Operation Golden State, and he was also charged with first degree racketeering conspiracy, multiple weapons charges, and drug distribution. He was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia.
The murder conviction alone would give Styles 30 years in prison without a chance of parole until he served 85 percent of his sentence.
The juvenile faces a term of up to 10 years for murder, however, the State might try him as an adult.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Detective Terrence McGhee of the Asbury Park Police Department at (732) 774-1300 or Detective Stephen Cavendish of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533-7443.
