TOMS RIVER – A Toms River man has been sentenced to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) for murder in connection to a 2020 shooting, officials said.
Leyron Jones, 26, of Toms River, was previously found guilty of Murder in connection with the shooting death of Javon Cutler which occurred in Toms River on October 11, 2020.
Jones’ co-defendant, Daivon Sullivan, 21, also of Toms River, was sentenced to 40 years NJSP in connection with the same shooting death.
The sentences are subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that both individuals will be required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences before they may be considered for parole eligibility.
In addition, both Jones and Sullivan were sentenced to 10 years NJSP – also subject to NERA – as a consequence of having been found guilty of Attempted Murder with respect to a second victim; these sentences will run consecutive to the sentences imposed relative to their murder convictions.
The judge also sentenced Jones and Sullivan to five years NJSP – with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility – as a result of their being convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in connection with the same shooting incident; these sentences will run concurrent with their other sentences.
Daivon Sullivan (Photo courtesy Ocean County Jail)
Finally, Sullivan was sentenced to 10 years NJSP as a result of his conviction for Attempted Murder as to a third victim; this sentence will run concurrent with the other sentences imposed upon Sullivan.
On August 17, 2023, Jones and Sullivan were found guilty of all the aforementioned charges following a three week-long jury trial.
On the night of October 11, 2020, Javon Cutler, 19, of Bayville, and two friends were leaving the Toms River Apartments, when someone opened fire on their car. As a result, Cutler was hit in the head. He was immediately brought to Community Medical Center for treatment. He then was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on October 14, 2020.
The investigation revealed that Sullivan, Jones, and a third defendant Shadrach Correa, 21, of Toms River had acted together to carry out the shooting.
All three defendants were charged in connection with Cutler’s murder on October 28, 2020. Correa had already been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since October 23, 2020 on an unrelated charge; Sullivan and Jones were apprehended on October 29, 2020, and have been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since they were taken into custody.
On April 24, Correa pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Correa’s sentencing date has not yet been set. Correa’s sentencing will be left to the Court’s discretion.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer commended the diligence and dedication of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke, who both ably and skillfully tried the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor likewise extended his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit; Toms River Police; Toms River Detective Bureau; Toms River Emergency Services Unit; Toms River Special Enforcement Team; Manchester Police; Barnegat Police; Berkeley Police; Seaside Heights Police; Brick Police; Lakewood Police; Jackson Police; South Toms River Police; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit; New Jersey State Police; Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office; Ocean County Department of Corrections; New Jersey State Department of Corrections; New Jersey State Police; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collective efforts investigating and solving this heinous and senseless crime, ultimately leading to guilty verdicts by the jury – and now, decades in state prison for both Jones and Sullivan.
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