MAYS LANDING, NJ - There are some teens who go on what they feel is a harmless joy ride. If the car is returned undamaged and no one was hurt, maybe they’ll get a slap on the wrist.
Then there are teens who go on crime-fueled “joy rides” that come to a tragic end where innocent lives are lost.
This next story is a case of the latter.
What began with the theft of a $220,000 luxury SUV from a New Jersey shore town ended hours later with two innocent people dead, four suspects in custody and a police chief issuing a reminder to residents to secure their vehicle key fobs.
Robert Barr Jr., 54, and Alice Stilwell, 67, were killed Saturday morning when authorities say a stolen 2024 Mercedes-Benz crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into their vehicle.
The impact was violent enough to send the victims' vehicle toward a nearby gas station, where it came to rest near the pumps.
The tragedy unfolded several hours after police first encountered the stolen Mercedes.
According to court records, Longport police attempted to stop the Mercedes overnight after spotting it traveling west over the JFK Memorial Bridge but lost sight of the vehicle.
Officers contacted the Mercedes' owners, who then confirmed the keys were left in the SUV and the vehicle was stolen. An alert was then sent to law enforcement agencies throughout the county.
Police encountered the SUV again several hours later.
According to court records, the SUV was seen in a Walmart parking lot, then again near a housing complex by another local police department that also attempted to stop the vehicle.
Approximately six minutes later, officers came upon the aftermath of the devastating head-on collision.
Four occupants of the stolen SUV were taken into custody.
Authorities identified the adult suspect as Nayshaun Brown, 18, of Atlantic City. Three additional suspects are juveniles and have not been publicly identified because of their ages.
All four face charges including:
- conspiracy to commit second-degree aggravated assault involving bodily injury while joyriding
- conspiracy to commit third-degree joyriding
- conspiracy to commit second-degree eluding
- conspiracy to commit second-degree theft by receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Brown has also been charged with first-degree employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
Prosecutors now accuse Brown of driving the stolen Mercedes at the time of the fatal crash. Court records also show Brown was already facing charges in two other cases from the previous two months, at least one of which involved a stolen vehicle.
Chief Ray Burgan Speaks Out
For Longport Police Chief Ray Burgan, the case represents not only a horrific loss of life but another example of a growing problem involving the theft of high-end vehicles.
"Two innocent people were killed senselessly," Burgan told local media.
Police said the Mercedes was one of three high-end vehicles stolen in Longport during the previous week, with similar thefts reported in other Jersey Shore communities.
Burgan said there has been a common denominator in the vehicle thefts his department has investigated.
"In this town 100% of the time, key fobs are being left in the cars, unsecure," Chief Burgan said.
The chief also addressed the difficult decisions officers face when attempting to stop drivers who flee in stolen vehicles.
"I think if they can get into these vehicles, they're not stopping for us," Chief Burgan said. "We will attempt to stop them, but if they take off, we have to weigh risk-worth first reward when it comes to vehicular pursuit."
It is widely believed that limiting police powers, such as those in New Jersey, emboldens those committing crimes, which could lead to greater destruction, as seen in this case.
Stilwell was a popular grandmother who reportedly worked as a hairdresser, and her longtime partner, Barr, worked as a bus driver in Egg Harbor Township.
Friends described the couple as deeply loved members of the community.
"Together they were loved by so many throughout the community. Two great souls taken far too soon by unbelievable circumstances," a friend said.
A GoFundMe was organized to assist Stilwell's family with funeral and related expenses as they attempt to pick up the pieces of everything they lost.
In this case, a luxury SUV was stolen, and by Saturday morning, two people who had nothing to do with the alleged crime were dead.
Writer and author Eddie Molina has over 25 years of combined LEO and military service. Learn more about his interview articles at www.eddiemolina.com.
Comments