On a late summer evening in Freehold, New Jersey, 18-year-old Reashaun Billingsley was sitting on a front porch on Lloyd Avenue with another male. It was just after 5 p.m. on August 23, 2021, when a sedan approached the residence. A passenger in the back seat, later identified as 23-year-old Lamin Conteh of Manalapan, opened fire on the two men. The sudden eruption of violence sent Billingsley and his companion fleeing into the home for cover.
Responding to a 911 call, Freehold Borough police officers discovered Billingsley inside the home, unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical aid was administered at the scene before he was rushed to CentraState Medical Center. Despite these efforts, Reashaun Billingsley, a Black male who was working as a stocker at a local Walmart, was pronounced dead at 6:04 p.m.
The second victim sustained a graze wound to his leg.
The investigation into the targeted attack quickly led to a suspect. The following day, Lamin Conteh was apprehended in the neighboring town of Manalapan. He was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and two firearms offenses. Authorities confirmed that Conteh was the shooter in the rear of the vehicle. While the motive for the shooting was not publicly disclosed, the investigation concluded that it was not a random act of violence. Conteh was incarcerated and faced the possibility of a life sentence if convicted.
