Legislators in New Jersey’s 19^th district, which includes Sayreville, released a statement following the arrest of a suspect in connection with the February 1, 2023 murder of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.

“We want to thank the law enforcement community, especially the Sayreville Police and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, for their diligent and dedicated efforts in investigating the murder of Councilwoman Dwumfour,” said Senator Joseph Vitale, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex). ““This is welcome news to the Sayreville community, and we are confident justice will be served. We hope this will bring some measure of comfort to Councilwoman Drumfour’s family. Our community’s prayers continue to be with them.”

From ABC News:

Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning just before 11 a.m.

Police say Bynum knew Dwumfour from Fire Congress Fellowship (FCF), a church Dwomfour was previously affiliated with, which also is associated with Champion Royal Assembly Church in Newark, which was her current church.

Dwumfour was fatally shot inside her car on Feb. 1 after she dropped someone off in Sayreville.

Surveillance footage captured Bynum running from the scene after the shooting, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said. She also said a mobile phone belonging to Bynum indicated travel from Virginia to New Jersey at the time of the murder.

Bynum was charged with first-degree Murder, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, and second-degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose.

“The murder has shaken the community and no arrest will bring back the late councilwoman,” Ciccone said.

From WHYY:

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said 28-year-old Rashid Ali Bynum, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was arrested without incident on first-degree murder and two second-degree handgun charges in the death of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.

Ciccone said the investigation is still underway and didn’t directly address a motive in Dwumfour’s death. She said Bynum was linked to a church that Dwumfour belonged to and appeared as a contact in her phone under an acronym that investigators linked to the church.