NEPTUNE – Authorities have announced that a third man has been charged in connection with the 2016 shooting death of a 20-year-old Bradley Beach man.
Stephon Keys, 31, of Neptune Township, was charged with first-degree Felony Murder, first-degree Armed Robbery, first-degree Attempted Murder, second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, two counts of second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, two counts of second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and two counts second-degree Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. Keys was served with his charges while already in custody at a New Jersey state prison on a different case.
Back in December, 30-year-old Quashon J. McDuffie and 31-year-old Knaliek Joshua were both previously charged in connection with the murder of Andre Thorne.
On February 8, 2016, at around 8:18 p.m., officers responded to 1300 7th Avenue for a report of a shooting. Police found Andre Thorne in the driver’s seat of a 2002 red Dodge Neon, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Thorne was quickly brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he would later be pronounced deceased. Authorities later discovered that Thorne was sitting in the car with two others at the time of the shooting.
Around 40 minutes after the 911 calls for the shooting, a second shooting took place near 1300 Monroe Avenue. Although there were no gunshot victims found, police recovered evidence of a shooting and discovered that a car had been struck twice near 500 Myrtle Avenue, which intersects with 1300 Monroe Avenue.
After investigating both shootings, police determined that Keys was responsible for the second shooting incident as well.
Investigations into these shootings are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Sergeant Keith Finkelstein at 732-431-7160, ext. 3019 or Neptune Township Detective Carrie Bartlett at 732-988-8000.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
