Long Branch man held for Sunday gunshot murder in the city

The July 16 shooting death of a victim outside his house in Long Branch is traced to a 29-year-old of the city, who's charged with first-degree murder.

Jeffrey S. Williams also faces counts of felony murder, robbery, possession of a firearm for unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a firearm for the death of Hector C. Mejia, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni's office. His detention hearing takes place July 26.

Williams was arrested following four days of investigation that involved police from Long Branch, Lakewood and Keansburg, in addition to county detectives.

Authorities did not speculate a motive, and did not elaborate on circumstances that led to the robbery charge, nor of felony murder, which indicates a killing in the commission of another crime.

Investigators continue to root out new details of the case. They urge anyone who can provide information to contact the Prosecutor's Office, 800-533-7443, or Long Branch PD Detective Todd Coleman, 732-222-1000.

The first-degree murder and felony murder charges, if a conviction is reached, would place Williams at risk of a minimum 30 years in prison without parole, with a maximum life term, and requirements to serve 85 percent of the sentence before parole eligibility under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, and five years of parole supervision upon release.

The first-degree robbery charge carries a possible 20-year prison term. The second-degree weapons charges are punishable by up to 10 years for each.

Calling 911 from their Liberty Street house at about 11:41 PM, Mejia's wife reportedfinding her husband prone and bleeding near their front door, authorities said. Arriving police and medical technicians discovered his gunshot wound. Mejia was pronounced deat at 11:56 PM.

Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J.; Decker leads the County's case. Williams has retained Freehold attorney Ryan Moriarty.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.