An area man has been arrested for the murder of a 41-year-old man in Oceanport last night, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Saturday.

Michael Westbrook, 41, of Neptune Township, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and third-degree hindering his own apprehension in connection with the shooting death of Amad Jones, 41, formerly of Oceanport.

The case background …

On Friday Dec. 30, at about 9:40 p.m., Oceanport police were dispatched to the area of Gosselin Avenue in Fort Monmouth in response to a report of a someone possibly being shot. Upon arrival, police discovered Amad Jones in the roadway with a gunshot wound to his chest. Jones ultimately succumbed to his injury.

A short while later, Michael Westbrook turned himself in to authorities at the Neptune Township Police Department headquarters.

A joint investigation by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Oceanport Police Department and Neptune Township Police Department ultimately led to the arrest and charging of Westbrook. He remains in custody pending his initial court appearance and detention hearing.

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Cummings of the Major Crimes Bureau. Information on Westbrook’s legal representation was not immediately available. If convicted of murder, Westbrook faces a term of up to life in state prison.

Anyone with information about this matter is being asked to contact MCPO Detective Kent Thornton at 800-533-7443 or Oceanport Detective William Resnyk at 732-222-6301.

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

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