Two More Charged in Toms River Shooting After Former High School Athlete charged with Attempted Murder

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Two Ocean County men have been charged with three counts of attempted murder in connection with a January 13 shooting that targeted a residence occupied by an adult and two children, authorities announced Friday.

Lyjhahn Cromartie, 19, of Lakehurst, and Shazir Vallade, 20, of Lakewood, were identified as suspects following an investigation by the Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

On January 13, 2025, at approximately 1:55 a.m. Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to the area of Justice Court in Hopes Crossing for a report of shots fired. Investigation by responding Officers determined that three males had fired gunshots into a residence; an adult and two children were present in the residence at the time of the shooting.

The shooting occurred around 1:55 a.m. in the area of Justice Court in Hopes Crossing, where gunshots were fired into a residence.

Authorities previously charged Javir Askew-Mayweather, 21, of Manchester, with three counts of attempted murder on February 3. Mayweather was a local high school athlete during his time in High School.

He was arrested in Atlantic City by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force but was later released under New Jersey Bail Reform guidelines.

Cromartie was taken into custody on February 28 at his home by the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, while Vallade was arrested the same day at his workplace in Berkeley Township. Both remain in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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