By: Yuritza Arroyo
Ocean County Prosecutor announced that on March 28, Jahvontae Debose, 26, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of Dajour Randolph in Lakewood Township on February 21, 2021.
According to officials, Debose also pleaded guilty to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.
Officials said at the time of his sentencing on May 22, the State will be recommending a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Manslaughter charge - subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.
Additionally, the State will recommend a term of seven years NJSP with five years of parole ineligibility as to the charge of being a Certain Person not to Possess a Weapon and seven years NJSP with 42 months of parole ineligibility as to the charge of Possessing a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense.
According to authorities, these sentences are to run concurrently. Finally, the State will be recommending a term of seven years NJSP as to the Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute charge. This sentence is to run consecutively.
On February 21, 2021, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Lakewood Township Police were summoned to the area of Tudor Court in response to a 911 call regarding a male who had collapsed in the middle of the road.
Responding Officers found Adjourn Randolph, 20, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.
According to officials, Mr. Randolph was transported to Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, in Lakewood, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
On February 22, 2021, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Randolph’s body. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of Mr. Randolph’s death to be multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of death to be a homicide.
Debose was initially charged on February 23, 2021, with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. Debose was taken into custody without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force in Pleasantville following a motor vehicle stop on February 23, 2021.
Officials say he was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his apprehension.
A thorough investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit between February 21, 2021, and February 25, 2021, revealed that Debose was, in fact, the individual responsible for Mr. Randolph’s death.
On February 25, 2021, Debose was served in the Ocean County Jail with a complaint charging him with Mr. Randolph’s death.