Toms River Men Found Guilty of Murder in Deadly Shooting

Daivon Sullivan, 21, and Leyron Jones, 26 (Credit: Ocean City Jail)

Two Toms River men have been found guilty of murder in the shooting death of a township man in 2020.

Daivon Sullivan, 21, and Leyron Jones, 26, both of Toms River, were found guilty of murder by shooting Javon Cutler on Oct. 11, 2020 following a three week-long jury trial before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan.

In rendering its verdict, the jury concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Sullivan and Jones knowingly or purposely caused the death of Cutler, or purposely or knowingly caused serious bodily injury to Mr. Cutler which resulted in his death, prosecutors said in a statement.

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The jury also found Sullivan and Jones guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder with respect to a second victim, as well as unlawful possession of a weapon. Finally, Sullivan was found guilty of attempted murder as to a third victim. Sullivan and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced by Ryan on Oct. 20, 2023, at which time they each face life in prison.

According to the prosecution’s statement, an investigation revealed that at approximately 8:15 p.m. the night of the altercation, Cutler, 19, of Bayville, and two friends were attempting to leave Toms River Apartments, located on Main Street in Toms River, when an unknown individual opened fire on their vehicle. Cutler, who was seated in the rear passenger seat, was struck in the head as a result. The driver of the vehicle drove directly to Community Medical Center to seek medical treatment for Cutler.

Cutler was subsequently transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on October 14, 2020. A post-mortem examination was performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner on October 15, 2020. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of Mr. Cutler’s death to be intermediate distance gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death to be homicide.

“After a very thorough and comprehensive investigation that spanned the course of nearly three weeks, it was determined that Sullivan, Jones and a third defendant – Shadrach Correa, 21, of Toms River – acted together and in support of one another in carrying out the shooting that resulted in the death of Javon Cutler,” the statement said.

All three defendants were charged in connection with Cutler’s murder on Oct. 28, 2020. Correa had already been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since Oct. 23, 2020 relative to an unrelated charge; Sullivan and Jones were apprehended on Oct. 29, 2020, and have been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since they were taken into custody.

On April 24, 2023, Correa pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8, 2023; Correa’s sentencing will be left to the court’s discretion.