God Justice Allah was a 21-year-old Black man from Asbury Park, New Jersey, described by family as a much-loved, loyal young father whose life was taken on a winter afternoon. On Thursday, February 2, 2023, at about 2:15 p.m., gunfire was reported near Ridge and Springwood Avenues. Police found Allah with a critical gunshot wound and he was rushed to Jersey Shore Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 2:45 p.m.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department opened a joint investigation. Within days authorities identified two local men as suspects. On February 10, 30-year-old Eddy Vilus was arrested during a traffic stop. The other suspect, 31-year-old Quamere M. Smith, was already in the county jail on unrelated charges when he was later charged in the killing. Both were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and multiple weapons- and related offenses; the accusations against Smith included destroying evidence.

One defendant was later convicted of Allah’s murder and sentenced to life in prison. Anyone who knew God Justice Allah or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.