Long Branch man gets life plus 30 years for deadly home invasion and police chase crash

FREEHOLD, NJ – A violent home invasion spiraled into a fatal police chase that ended with a car engulfed in flames and a woman dead. Now, more than two years later, the man at the center of the chaos will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Altonia D. Williams, 47, of Long Branch, was sentenced to life plus 30 years in state prison after a jury found him guilty on 18 separate charges tied to the August 2023 incident that left 38-year-old Tracee Blount dead. The sentence was handed down last week in Monmouth County Superior Court by Judge Joseph W. Oxley.

It began just before 4 a.m. on August 14, when police were called to a home on Narragansett Avenue in Long Branch. Williams had reportedly entered the residence armed with a gun, demanding money from its occupants.

As officers arrived, Williams fled the area in a white BMW. Within minutes, he crashed into a second responding patrol car before fleeing the wrecked vehicle on foot. Inside the passenger seat, officers found Blount critically injured and trapped in the burning car. Despite efforts to pull her from the wreckage, she died shortly after at a nearby hospital.

Williams was found hiding in bushes nearby with a loaded handgun. Toxicology tests later confirmed he was under the influence of marijuana during the fatal collision.

A joint investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and SCART, led to an indictment in December. A four-week trial this year ended with convictions on a long list of charges, including first-degree Armed Robbery, Felony Murder, Aggravated Manslaughter While Eluding, and Vehicular Homicide.

Williams’ criminal record and the violent nature of the case led to the stiff sentence. Prosecutors described his actions as demonstrating “utter disregard for the value of human life.”

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Key Points

Altonia D. Williams was sentenced to life plus 30 years for a 2023 home invasion and fatal crash
The incident began with an armed robbery and ended with a police chase that killed 38-year-old Tracee Blount
Williams was convicted on 18 charges including felony murder and vehicular homicide

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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