A Keansburg man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Keyport man late last week, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

John Curtin, 19, of Woodland Avenue in Keansburg, is charged with: first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The charges have been brought against Curtin in connection with the shooting and killing of 20-year-old Evan Smutz inside his Center Street apartment in Keyport.

Curtin is scheduled for detention hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James J. McGann.

“It was hard work and determination by detectives in our Office and at the Keyport Police Department who quickly solved this murder and brought Mr. Curtin to justice for this crime,” Gramiccioni said. “This is a great credit to all of law enforcement and the community.”

The case background …

Keyport police responded to a 911 call reporting the shooting at 12:48 p.m. at 2 Center Street. Police arrived to find Smutz with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at 1:21 p.m.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Keyport Police department determined Curtin arrived at Smutz’s apartment and while inside an argument ensued that culminated in Curtin fatally shooting Smutz. Curtin fled the apartment after the shooting. Hours later, Curtin surrendered to the New York City Police Department and was transported back to Monmouth County.

Anyone with additional information about this case is urged to call Detective Ryan Mahony of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Sergeant Joe Redina of the Keyport Police Department at 732-264-0706.