TOMS RIVER, NJ – Leyron Jones, 26, and Daivon Sullivan, 21, both of Toms River, have been sentenced to 50 and 40 years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) respectively for their roles in the 2020 murder of 19-year-old Javon Cutler.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the sentences handed down by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., on October 20, 2023. Both men were found guilty on August 17, 2023, following a three-week-long jury trial.
The sentences fall under the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring both men to serve at least 85% of their sentences before parole eligibility. Additionally, both were sentenced to 10 years in NJSP for Attempted Murder of a second victim; these sentences will run consecutively to their murder sentences.
They were sentenced to five years for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, to run concurrently. Sullivan received an additional 10-year sentence for Attempted Murder of a third victim, also to run concurrently.
The charges stem from an incident on October 11, 2020, when Cutler and two friends were leaving Toms River Apartments. An unknown individual fired shots at their vehicle, striking Cutler in the head. Cutler succumbed to his injuries three days later. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head and ruled it a homicide.
After an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, it was determined that Sullivan, Jones, and a third defendant, Shadrach Correa, 21, were involved in the shooting. All three were charged with Cutler’s murder on October 28, 2020. Correa, already in jail on unrelated charges, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon on April 24, 2023.
His sentencing date has not yet been set.