Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 9, 2025, Tyshaun Drummond, 42, of Toms River, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to 30 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) – with a 30 year period of parole ineligibility – in connection with the murder of Nicholas Hardy, 36, of Toms River. Additionally, Judge Ryan sentenced Drummond to 30 years NJSP – likewise with a 30 year period of parole ineligibility – in connection with the murder of Sergio Chavez-Perez, 32, of Lakewood. Both murders occurred on December 19, 2021, in Lakewood. The sentences will run consecutively.
Drummond was found guilty of two counts of Murder following a nearly month-long jury trial before Judge Ryan. The jury also found Drummond guilty of Burglary; Judge Ryan sentenced Drummond to 10 years NJSP as to the Burglary count, which will run concurrent to the sentences imposed on the Murder convictions.
On December 19, 2021, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to an apartment complex on River Avenue for a report of shots having been fired. Police Dispatch was able to supply the Officers with a description of the suspect who fired the shots. Responding Officers located an individual matching the description – later identified as Drummond – in front of the apartment complex. Officers ordered Drummond to lay on the ground; when Drummond refused to comply, he was subdued by way of a department-issued Conducted Energy Device (CED).
Upon entering the apartment building, Officers discovered the deceased bodies of Nicholas Hardy and Sergio Chavez-Perez; both men were observed to have been shot in the head. An ensuing investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, identified Drummond as the individual responsible for the victims’ deaths. Drummond has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his release from a local hospital on December 21, 2021.
Prosecutor Billhimer applauds the outstanding efforts of Chief Assistant Prosecutor Robert Cassidy and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater and, who ably and skillfully tried the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and collective efforts, leading to Drummond’s apprehension, guilty verdicts, and now his very lengthy state prison sentence.
(WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS BELOW – of the suspect holding the gun prior to the murders, and him getting tased by officers. Mute due to strong language)
He will be eligible for parole at age 112 after serving the 70 years in prison.
It costs the state approximately $100,000.00 per year per state prisoner: why waste $7,000,000.00 of taxpayers money to keep such a murderer in prison.
The death penalty should be reinstated for such criminals.
We need to bring back the death penalty in open shut cases. Ridiculous to burden the taxpayers for 60 years.
The government should not have the power to kill people (except if they cannot be apprehended alive).
Power breeds corruption, and all government power will eventually be misused.
History is full of examples of incompetent or corrupt detectives, prosecutors, lawyers, judges, witnesses, lab evidence experts, juries, etc.
A death sentence cannot be undone.
terrible! another future president victimized by the justice system.
So for money you want to kill someone?
This argument is disgusting.
If his crime deserves the death penalty fine, however monetary considerations are irrelevant.