Nearly a decade after 21-year-old Asbury Park resident Jakeema Kelly was shot to death, the Long Branch man accused of killing him appeared in court for to face those charges for the first time.
FREEHOLD - Nearly a decade after 21-year-old Asbury Park resident Jakeema Kelly was shot to death, the Long Branch man accused of killing him appeared in court for to face those charges for the first time.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on March 26, 2006, Asbury Park police officers responded to 115 Dewitt Avenue for the report of a gunshot victim lying on the ground.
When police arrived they found Kelly on the sidewalk near the entrance to the Westside Community Center's administration building.
RELATED: Long Branch man charged in 2006 shooting death of Asbury Park resident
Kelly was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township where he was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m.
On Tuesday, less than four shy of the 10-year anniversary of the killing, 35-year-old Long Branch resident Joey Johnson was arrested at his place of employment in Freehold Township by detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Asbury Park Police Department, with assistance from law enforcement officers for the New Jersey State Parole Board.
Johnson remained quiet and seemingly emotionless as he was arraigned in front of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O'Brien Kilgallen on Wednesday afternoon on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons.
Kilgallen set Johnson's bail at $1.2 million, with a cash-only requirement.
Defense attorney Joshua Hood represented Johnson during his first court appearance, while Senior Litigation Counsel John Loughrey, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, presented Johnson with the charges against him.
If convicted of the murder charge, Johnson could be sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Prior to Johnson's arraignment, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni called Johnson's arrest "a testament to the hard work and perseverance of the detectives who relentlessly pursued this investigation."
"Over the course of time, these dedicated law enforcement officers ensured the person responsible for Jakeema Kelly's murder would be brought to justice," Gramiccioni said in a release.
Seven years after Kelly's death, his 21-year-old brother, Donte Kelly, was gunned down on the porch of a house on Sewall Avenue.
The shooting deaths of both men led to efforts from community leaders, law enforcement, clergy and city officials to cease gun violence in Asbury Park.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.