Jahvontae Debose, 26, a Lakewood resident, was sentenced on Friday to seven years New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Manslaughter, in connection with the shooting death of Dajour Randolph in Lakewood Township on February 21, 2021.
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 Dajour Randolph, 20, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. 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 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, New Jersey, following a motor vehicle stop on February 23, 2021. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his apprehension.
A thorough and extensive 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 the complaint charging him in connection with Mr. Randolph’s death.
Dubose was also sentenced Friday to seven years in prison with a five year period of parole ineligibility as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. Additionally, he wae sentenced to seven years with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possessing a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense. These sentences will run concurrently.
Finally, Dubose was sentenced Debose to seven years in prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. This sentence will run consecutively, meaning he will get a total of 14 years in prison.