Prosecutor: 33-Year-Old Area Man Found Guilty of 2023 Murder

A 33-year-old area man has been convicted at trial of murder, murder conspiracy and related weapons charges stemming from fatal 2023 shooting, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Tuesday.

Following a month-long trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn, Eddy Vilus, of Asbury Park, was found guilty of: first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of third-degree hindering apprehension, third-degree theft, third-degree receiving stolen property, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon (handgun), and fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon.

Vilus is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, May 6, at which time he will face a term of up to life in state prison.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, Asbury Park police responded to the area of Ridge and Springwood avenues on a report of gunfire. There, police found the victim, 21-year-old God Allah, who had sustained a gunshot wound. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 2:45 p.m.

An investigation involving members of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department resulted in the identification of Vilus and 34-year-old Quamere M. Smith, also of Asbury Park, as suspects. Vilus, specifically, was identified as the person responsible for the shooting.

Charges related to Allah’s death were filed against the pair on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. Vilus was found and arrested during a traffic stop in Asbury Park later that same day, when he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. Smith was served his charges while already in custody at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) on separate charges.

Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in front of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley.

The state intends to seek a term for Smith of up to 30 years in prison, with 85 percent of the sentence to be served before the possibility of parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA). Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13.

The case is being handled by assistant prosecutors Joseph Cummings, Director of the MCPO Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section, and William Visone. Vilus is represented by Durran Neil, Esq., with an office in Atlantic City. Smith is represented by John Murphy III, Esq., with an office in Staten Island, New York.

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