Prosecutor: 19-Year-Old Fugitive Wanted in Area Murder Found

A fugitive who was sought in connection with last week’s fatal shooting in Long Branch has been found in the Poconos and arrested, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Friday.

Damian Bass, 19, with a last known address in Fanwood (Union County), was arrested in the Effort section of Chestnuthill Township, PA yesterday by members of the Scranton-based U.S. Marshals Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force Monmouth/Ocean Team.

The case background …

Shortly before 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26, Long Branch police responded to the platform of the NJ TRANSIT Long Branch Station on a report of a shooting victim. Upon their arrival, the officers found 43-year-old James Hailey, of Newark, who had sustained a gunshot wound. Hailey was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

An investigation involving members of the Prosecutor’s Office, NJ Transit Police, and Long Branch Police Department resulted in Bass being identified as a suspect, and he was charged with first-degree murder and two related weapons offenses the next day.

Bass remains in custody in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition, pending proceedings to be held in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact MCPO Detective Aaron Shaw at 800-533-7443, New Jersey Transit Police Detective Brian Lee at 973-491-8952, or Long Branch Police Department Detective Daniel Cunha at 732-222-1000, Ext. 1373.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office