An Asbury Park man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of gunning down a 21-year-old victim in a daytime shooting at a city intersection.
An Asbury Park man convicted of murder and a host of related offenses has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 years, for the 2023 killing of 21-year-old God Allah, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced.
Eddy Vilus, 33, received the sentence Tuesday from Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn following his conviction earlier this year after a month-long jury trial.
Daylight shooting shocked neighborhood
The homicide occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2023, near the intersection of Ridge and Springwood avenues in Asbury Park.
Officers responding to reports of gunfire found Allah suffering from a gunshot wound.
“At that location the officers located the victim, 21-year-old God Allah, who had sustained a gunshot wound,” prosecutors said.
Allah was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later.
Jury convicted Vilus on multiple charges
Following a lengthy trial, jurors found Vilus guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, weapons offenses, theft-related charges, and multiple counts of hindering apprehension.
“Vilus was found guilty on Thursday, February 12, by a jury of first-degree Murder, first-degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder,” along with numerous additional offenses, prosecutors said.
The sentence includes life imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction, plus a consecutive 10-year sentence with five years of parole ineligibility.
Investigation identified two suspects
Investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department identified Vilus and Quamere M. Smith, 34, also of Asbury Park, as suspects.
Authorities said the investigation determined Vilus was the shooter.
Charges were filed against both men on Feb. 10, 2023. Vilus was arrested later that day during a traffic stop in Asbury Park.
“Vilus was located and arrested without incident during a traffic stop in Asbury Park later that same day, when he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun,” prosecutors said.
Co-defendant awaiting sentencing
Smith previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder in October.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to 30 years in state prison under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday.
Assistant Prosecutors Joseph Cummings and William Visone prosecuted the case on behalf of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Key Points
• Eddy Vilus, 33, was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 10 additional years for the 2023 murder of God Allah.
• The victim was shot near Ridge and Springwood avenues in Asbury Park and died at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
• Co-defendant Quamere M. Smith has pleaded guilty to murder and is scheduled for sentencing next week.
