Toms River, Seaside Heights Men Charged in Murder of Brick Man

Sevon Hill, 24, of Toms River and Shakar Barksdale, a.k.a. “Anthony” Barksdale. (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

Two men, from Seaside Heights and Toms River, have been charged in the murder of a Brick Township man in a Toms River apartment building.

Sevon Hill, 24, of Toms River and Shakar Barksdale, also known as “Anthony” Barksdale, 24, of Seaside Heights were each charged with one count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, being a person not to possess a firearm, three counts of second degree possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, third degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and two counts of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

These charges result from the investigation into the March 5 shooting death of Steven Stallworth, of Brick, which was conducted by a slew of law enforcement agencies. The incident began with a 911 call reporting a shooting at the Hampton Gardens apartment complex in Toms River. Stallworth was found unresponsive at the scene and was declared deceased.

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During the course of the investigation two suspects were developed, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Hill and Barksdale were apparently residing at a local hotel prior to the murder, he said. During a search of the suspects’ hotel room on the night of the murder, a large quantity of cocaine and heroin were discovered, and through further investigation, it was determined that the two men entered into a conspiracy to commit the murder, prosecutors say. During the course of the investigation, authorities say it was discovered that the suspects had relocated to a separate local hotel, upon searching that hotel, the suspects were again found to be in possession of quantities of cocaine and heroin, and were charged accordingly.

Both suspects are currently being held without bail in the Ocean County Jail.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and High Tech Crimes Unit, the Toms River Police Department, the Ocean County Sherriff’s Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit, New Jersey State Police, the Manchester Police Department, the Lacey Police Department, the Seaside Heights Police Department, and the Brick Police Department all participated in the investigation.

Anyone with information on the case is being asked to contact Detective John Carroll of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit (732) 929-2027 ext. 3964 or Detective Lou Santora of the Toms River Police Department (732) 349-0150 ext. 1276.