An arrest has been made in the murder of New Jersey Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was shot more than a dozen times while sitting in her car in February.
Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning, with officials saying he knew the victim from the Champions Royal Assembly Church in Newark.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said surveillance footage showed Mr Bynum allegedly fled the scene after the 30-year-old was shot.
And she said Mr Bynum’s phone would have shown he had traveled from Virginia to New Jersey at the time of the murder, and data from the device showed he was returning immediately afterwards.
Mr Bynum has been charged with first degree murder, unlawful possession of a second degree handgun and possession of a second degree handgun for an unlawful purpose.
Prosecutors gave no motive for the killing and declined to answer reporters’ questions when the arrest was announced.
“A search of the victim’s phones revealed that Bynum was a contact in Eunice Dwumfour’s phone with the acronym FCF,” Ms Ciccone said. “FCF would be the acronym for Fire Congress Fellowship, a church with which the victim was previously affiliated.”
The prosecutor also said the suspect matches a description given by a witness.
Ms. Dwumfour, a Republican, beat an incumbent Democrat to win her seat in 2021 and was the first black person ever elected in Sayreville.
His family had raised concerns about the lack of results from the police investigation into the murder.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin addressed the situation and acknowledged there had been “a lot of questions” about not arresting anyone.
“I want you to know that the people behind me and the people in this community and across the state who are working tirelessly on this investigation did so to keep the public safe and to make sure these issues could find a solution. response,” Platkin said Tuesday.
“And I hope today is the start of a healing process and also the start of a sense of justice for you.”