Wayne Edward Jones, a 46-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2019, in Neptune, New Jersey. The incident occurred at approximately 8:11 p.m. at the R-NU Barbershop located at 1030 Old Corlies Avenue. During what authorities have described as a robbery, Jones was fatally shot. Another man, a 42-year-old from Trenton, was also wounded in the shooting but survived after being treated at a local hospital.
Witnesses at the scene reported that Jones acted heroically in the moments before his death, attempting to tackle the gunman. Following the shooting, both victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Jones was pronounced dead at 9:02 p.m. He was a well-known and beloved member of the Neptune community, a graduate of Neptune High School's class of 1991, and a dedicated Teacher's Aide at The Children's Center of Monmouth County.
He was a husband and a father to three daughters, with his first grandchild expected in the months following his death.
The investigation into the murder of Wayne Jones remains active and ongoing. Law enforcement officials have stated that the assailants fled the scene in a vehicle believed to be a 2012 to 2016 black Toyota Camry with tinted windows. To date, the individuals responsible for this violent act have not been apprehended, and no arrests have been made. The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Neptune Township Police Department continue to seek information from the public to bring those responsible to justice and provide closure for Jones's family.
