Two men have been charged in connection with the 2008 robbery and fatal beating of Leroy Julious in Ewing Township.Breyon Goodman, 36, of Trenton, and Jason Howard, 41, are each charged with Murder (1st degree), Felony Murder (1st degree) and Robbery (1st degree). Goodman was arrested in Trenton on April 15 by members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial. Howard, 41, was served his complaints in Rhode Island, where he is incarcerated for an unrelated incident.The charges were announced on April 22 by N.J. Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri following an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force (MCHTF) in conjunction with the N.J. Attorney General’s Cold Case Network.According to the public documents filed in the case, on May 9, 2008, Ewing Police responded to the report of a caller stating that the victim, Leroy Julious, was injured and on the ground, bleeding. Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle parked diagonally in front of a residence at the scene.There were multiple individuals on scene, including Howard, who was standing outside of the open driver’s door of the vehicle. Witnesses directed officers to Julious, who was lying on the ground in a gravel lot. The victim had severe head trauma, with blood on his face, head and neck, and officers noticed his pockets were turned inside out. Julious was pronounced dead at the scene.Authorities said that investigation revealed robbery to be a potential motive in the case. Officers learned that Julious was known to carry money and that his wallet was not on him when he was found. According to the complaint affidavit, investigation also indicated that the assault on Julious started in the garage carport of a nearby house and his body was dragged to the empty gravel lot.In March 2023, the Mercer County Homicide Task Force received new information and the case was reopened. At the direction of Prosecutor Onofri, the case was presented to the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s (OPIA’s) Regional Cold Case Task Force.In the fall of 2023, all viable physical evidence was resubmitted to the NJ State Police Central Regional Laboratory, including DNA evidence. Technological advancements in forensic science provided new information related to the case.“For 16 years the senseless, cruel death of Leroy Julious has gone unsolved,” said Platkin. “But law enforcement did not forget, and did not give up. We hope the charges bring a measure of relief to the victim’s grieving loved ones.”“Dogged detective work, technological advances, inter-agency cooperation, and a shared, unflagging desire for answers and accountability for this terrible crime have brought about these charges,” said Thomas J. Eicher, executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “This development in this long-dormant case demonstrates the effectiveness of the cooperation and capabilities of the Cold Case Network.”“These detectives are relentless in the pursuit of justice,” said Onofri. “The technological and investigative resources made possible through this collaboration of law enforcement agencies are invaluable, and I’m grateful to the Attorney General’s Office for the formation of the Cold Case Task Force. Now we are able to announce charges and provide Mr. Julious’ family with answers after all of these years.”“We are continuing to investigate this murder and are asking for the public’s help,” Onofri added. “Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact MCHTF detectives at (609) 989-6406 or mchtftips@mercercounty.org.”Platkin and Onofri commended all of the New Jersey Cold Case Task Force’s participating agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. They also expressed their appreciation to the NJSP Office of Forensic Sciences, the NJSP Central Regional Laboratory, the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, and the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Albert Rhodes, for their assistance.The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.First-degree murder and felony murder crimes carry a sentencing exposure of 30 years to life in state prison and fine of up to $200,000. First-degree Robbery crimes carry a sentence of up to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The potential sentences are provided solely for informational purposes, as any potential sentence is determined by a judge.
(Staff photo by Bill Sanservino.),
