A fugitive who had been at large since playing a role in a summer of 2022 fatal shooting has been found and arrested, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.

Lydell Brown, 19, of Asbury Park, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and two related second-degree weapons offenses in connection with the Asbury Park incident.

The case background …

Shortly after 5:45 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022, Asbury Park police responded to a report of gunfire originating from the 100 block of Prospect Avenue, near the Atlantic Avenue intersection.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found 19-year-old Dariel Vernet, of Asbury Park, who had sustained multiple gunshot injuries. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead approximately one hour later. An autopsy yielded a determination that the manner of death was homicide.

The investigation into Vernet’s death, led by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department, resulted in Brown and a juvenile defendant being identified as the individuals responsible for the shooting.

The then-16-year-old juvenile, who was not identified due to his age, was apprehended on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, and he remains in custody pending future court proceedings.

Brown was found and arrested without incident in Toms River yesterday by members of MCPO, the Asbury Park Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact MCPO Detective Sergeant Christopher Guy at 800-533-7443 or Asbury Park Police Department Detective Anthony Troublefield at 732-774-1300. This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Caitlin J. Sidley and Alexandra Strzykalski.

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

• Police Report: $1,400 Theft, Aggravated Assault, Graffiti, Catalytic Converter Thefts, Weapons Possession, Bike Thefts
• Fair Haven Officials’ FYI on Drone Sighting Facts
• Retro Scary Santa Gag-n-Smile
• In Memoriam: Red Bank Resident Patricia Ann Rainville
• In Memoriam: Former Longtime Little Silver Resident, Carol Wade