Prosecutor: L.B. murder suspects are gang members
Arrests follow two murders in city in past two months
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin (center) looks on as Long Branch Public Safety Director William Richards addresses a press conference Dec. 29 at Long Branch City Hall at which authorities announced the arrest of suspects in the murder of city resident Keith Mason.

Five men believed to be members of the Bloods gang were arrested last week in connection with the murders of two Long Branch men.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, in conjunction with the Long Branch Police Department, arrested one Jackson man and one Lakewood man for the Nov. 21 murder of Michael Montgomery, 27, who was shot and killed at the intersection of Johns Street and Hendrickson.

Another man was also shot that night, but Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said he would not disclose the identity of the victim, who is still recovering.

Police arrested Valdo Anthony Thompson, 21, Jackson, on Dec. 31, and Carl J. Holdren, 18, Lakewood, on Dec. 30, for the murder and attempted murder, according to Valentin.

Paul Lewis

Both men are suspected of being members of the Sex, Money, Murder sect of the Bloods gang, Valentin said.

Both suspects are being charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, according to Valentin.

Thompson's bail was set at $2.5 million cash and Holdren's bail was set at $1.5 million cash, Valentin said.

Valentin held a press conference at Long Branch City Hall on Broadway Friday, to announce that two Long Branch men and one Lakewood man are being charged with the Dec. 14 shooting of Keith T. Mason, 28, inside his Second Avenue home.

The three men are also believed to be members of the Bloods gang, according to Valentin.

When asked if the two murders were connected, Valentin said he would "not comment on a relationship, if any, between the two" adding that the investigation is continuing.

Mason's murder is one of four shootings in Long Branch to result in a fatality within the past four months.

Qumere McClendon

The two-week investigation by the Prosecutor's Office and the Long Branch Police Department resulted in the arrests of Qumere McClendon, 20, Seventh Ave., Paul Lewis, 18, Garfield Court, and Darnell Stovall, 19, Seminole Drive in Lakewood.

"All three suspects have associations to gang activity," Valentin said at the conference, adding that the men are members of various sects of the Bloods gang.

"There is no information that would indicate that Mr. Mason had any association in a gang," Valentin added.

He would not comment on which of the suspects pulled the trigger, firing the shot that killed Mason.

Valentin would not comment when asked if any of the men being charged with Mason's murder is being questioned in connection with other murders in the city.

"We have gangs in Monmouth County," Valentin said. "We continue to take steps to put forth strong actions necessary to reduce gang violence."

Darnell Stovall

The three men charged with Mason's murder are being charged with first-degree crimes of armed robbery, murder and felony murder and second-degree charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

If convicted of murder or felony murder, each faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 30 years, during which they would be eligible for parole, according to Valentin.

On Dec. 14, Long Branch police received a 9-1-1 call of shots fired at a Second Avenue residence at approximately 3:11 p.m.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found Mason, 28, a former Long Branch high school student and star athlete, dead inside his home.

Mason's 2-year-old son was present at the time of the crime, but was not physically injured, according to police.

An investigation by the Prosecutor's Office and the Long Branch police revealed that the three accused had planned to rob Mason of drugs, namely marijuana, which they believed was present in his home, Valentin said.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin is flanked by personnel from his office and the Long Branch Police Department at the Dec. 29 press conference at Long Branch City Hall. Below: Keith Mason was shot and killed Dec. 14 at his home on Second Avenue in Long Branch.

"Our investigation revealed that Keith Mason was specifically targeted by these three men who sought to conduct an armed robbery of the victim, indifferent to the presence of the victim's 2-year-old son," Valentin said.

"This armed home invasion resulted in the senseless death of a young man," he said at the press conference.

During the course of the robbery, Mason sustained a single gunshot wound to the upper body and died while the accused men fled the scene.

Valentin would not comment on what was taken from the home by the suspects.

But Valentin did add that Mason "put forth an effort to protect himself and his child."

Bail was set for each of the three at $1.5 million, cash only, by Superior Court Judge Ira E. Kreizman.

"Although we have made arrests in this case, our investigation is continuing," Valentin said at the conference. "It is extremely important for people to come forward."

Anyone with information relating to the crime is asked to call the Long Branch Police Department at (732) 222-1000 or the Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-533-7443.

"We can't do this alone," Valentin said. "The public must serve an important role. We encourage residents to be bold and to be courageous.

These anonymous tips can point law enforcement in the right direction."

The most recent homicide in Long Branch occurred in Dec. 20, when Patricia DaSilva, 21, was shot and killed while working at her father's travel agency, TransBrazil Travel, on Westwood Avenue.

That crime occurred within one week of Mason's murder.

Herbert Hoover Lambert Bell, 30, was shot and killed on Aug. 19 on Division Street.

Both Valentin and Long Branch Director of Public Safety William A. Richards commended the efforts put forth by both law enforcement agency's.

"These arrests were the direct result of the tireless efforts of dedicated law enforcement officers who worked diligently for two weeks to achieve justice at a time of year more traditionally spent at home with loved ones and family," Richards said.

Valentin said, "The law enforcement professionals who conducted this investigation demonstrated extraordinary dedication in their pursuit of the individuals responsible for the murder of Keith Mason."