Elijah Charles Buffaloe was 31 when he was shot in Long Branch on February 11, 2024. The shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the area of Brighton Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and 2nd Avenue during what had been a birthday celebration. Buffaloe was struck by gunfire, taken to a local hospital, and died a few days later from his injuries.

Moments after Buffaloe was shot, a separate exchange of gunfire at the scene wounded a 32-year-old man from Brick Township; he drove himself to a hospital and was later released. Investigators later identified a suspect and, in February 2025, 25-year-old Raheem D. Montes of Long Branch was located in Clayton County, Georgia and arrested. Montes was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and was awaiting extradition to Monmouth County to face the charges.

Did anyone in the community witness the shootings or have information about the events that night?