FREEHOLD — An Asbury Park man has been found guilty in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred in the city three years ago, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced.
After a monthlong trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn, a jury convicted 33-year-old Eddy Vilus of first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, along with multiple weapons and related offenses. The additional convictions include unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, hindering apprehension, theft, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The charges stem from a shooting reported at approximately 2:15 p.m. on February 2, 2023, near the intersection of Ridge and Springwood avenues in Asbury Park. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found 21-year-old God Allah suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later.
A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department identified Vilus and 34-year-old Quamere M. Smith as suspects. Authorities determined Vilus was the individual who fired the fatal shot.
Criminal complaints were filed against both men on February 10, 2023. Vilus was taken into custody later that day during a motor vehicle stop in Asbury Park, where investigators said he was found with a loaded handgun. Smith was served with charges while incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on unrelated matters.
Smith previously entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder before Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley on October 6, 2025.
Assistant Prosecutors Joseph Cummings and William Visone are prosecuting the case. Vilus is represented by Durran Neil of Atlantic City, and Smith is represented by John Murphy III of Staten Island, New York.
Vilus is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6 and faces the possibility of life imprisonment. Smith is set for sentencing on May 13. Prosecutors intend to seek a 30-year prison term for Smith, which would require him to serve 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
