Guilty! Toms river man convicted for double murder in lakewood

Guilty! Toms River Man Convicted for Double Murder in Lakewood

Posted by
1 min read
October 22, 2024

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A Toms River man was found guilty on all charges, including two counts of murder, in connection with the 2021 shooting deaths of Nicholas Hardy and Sergio Chavez-Perez, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday.

Tyshaun Drummond, 42, was convicted after a nearly month-long jury trial before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan in Ocean County Superior Court. The jury determined that Drummond purposely or knowingly caused the deaths of Hardy, 36, of Toms River, and Chavez-Perez, 32, of Lakewood, in an incident that occurred on December 19, 2021, in Lakewood Township.

Drummond was also found guilty of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and burglary. He is set to be sentenced on December 13, when he faces the possibility of life in prison, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment complex on River Avenue at approximately 7:20 a.m. on December 19, 2021. Officers located Drummond outside the complex matching the suspect description and subdued him using a Conducted Energy Device (CED) after he refused to comply with orders.

Inside the apartment, officers found Hardy and Chavez-Perez with fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators from multiple agencies identified Drummond as the shooter, leading to his arrest.

“It has taken nearly three years, but justice has finally been served in this case,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version