Two Lakewood men charged with murder in Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Two Lakewood men have been charged with murder in connection with the 2010 shooting of Rondell Proctor following a reinvestigation using advanced forensic testing, Ocean County authorities announced Tuesday.

Maurice Cole, 36, and Jerron Evans, 41, were arrested without incident on Dec. 3 and are being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a hearing, according to Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan Jr.

The charges stem from an incident on May 27, 2010, when officers responded to the Winteringham Village Apartments on Route 166 in Toms River for a report of a shooting. Police discovered 22-year-old Rondell Proctor of Arkansas with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and face. Proctor was transported to Community Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Despite extensive investigations, the case remained unsolved for years. However, advances in forensic technology and further investigative efforts led to new evidence linking Cole and Evans to the murder, officials said.

First Assistant Prosecutor Nolan praised the collaborative efforts of local, regional and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Toms River Township Police Department, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and the FBI, among others, in the case of the 14 year old.

The arrests represent significant progress in a long-running unsolved case that authorities say demonstrates their commitment to justice for victims and their families.