1 priority, Ms. Ciccone said in an interview after an unrelated event. Nicolas Teliano, of Sayreville, who identified himself as the father of Dwumfour's daughter, has created a GoFundMe page to raise $50,000 to help pay for Dwumfour's funeral and to fund a trust for their 12-year-old daughter. He dressed all in black, including a black face mask, and waited outside her Sayreville condo. Should they ask us for any assistance, we will do all we can to help their investigation," the FBI said in a statement to ABC 7. Neither the police nor the prosecutors office have speculated on a possible motive in the shooting. SAYREVILLE, New Jersey (WABC) -- The. We feel the pain that you all feel, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin told the family. Prosecutors have not given any motive for the killing and refused to take any questions from reporters when the arrest was announced. Prince Dwumfour, Ms Dwumfours father, expressed his frustration that no suspects have been identified in his daughters murder. Eunice Dwumfour, a 30-year-old councilwoman in Sayreville, NJ, was fatally shot outside her home Wednesday night. Free Online Journaling Workshop with Hospital for Special Surgery! Thanks for contacting us. This story has been shared 260,261 times. Who killed New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour? She was also a devout Christian and regularly attended church. In addition to serving on the city council, Ms Dwumfour was also a business analyst and a part-time EMT. [1] Before her election to the provincial legislature, Dufour served on Laval City Council for 8 years. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, who apparently knew Dwumfour from church, was taken into custody Tuesday morning on charges including first-degree murder, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced at a news conference Tuesday. "She was happy with her new husband. Unfortunately, theres very little that is known right now, Mr Murphy said during a weekly radio appearance on WNYC. [3] She was elected as council member in the Borough of Sayreville in an unexpected result in 2021, after running as Republican. The FBI is also assisting the investigation, an agency representative has said, although their role in investigating the crime is not yet known. Dwumfour created a Bible study group at the church, called Fire Congress Fellowship or FCF. "As Mayor I have worked very closely with Eunice in her time on the Borough Council. Dwumfour had been elected to the council as a Republican in November 2021 and served just . Some locals toldRLS Mediathat the gunman was spotted racing off to the Garden State Parkway, which edges the complex. The 30-year-old had just won an upset election victory over an incumbent city councilman in Sayreville, New Jersey. Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutors announced the arrest of Rashid Ali Bynum on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun and second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose in connection to the death of Eunice Dwumfour, who served on the Sayreville town council. They have held no press conferences and refused to answer any questions on the shooting. Some other neighbors said they saw someone running away with a mask on.. A 28-year-old Virginia man has been arrested for murdering New Jersey Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was gunned down outside her Sayreville home in February. "Eunice broke through that glass ceiling. Eunice Dwumfour (19932023) was a Republican member of the borough council of Sayreville, New Jersey, from 2021 until her assassination. It sounded like an argument. Phil Murphy said he was stunned by the news of the councilwomans death. "To know her is to know she was always full of life and faith. Friends and family described her as a well-liked woman who was deeply religious. On a personal note, I cant adequately express my feeling of sorrow at the loss of a friend.". Authorities also found a handgun at the Smithfield, Virginia, address to which Bynum returned after allegedly shooting Dwumfour dead. She joined The Times in 2018 as a senior editor. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday 30 May with officials saying that he knew the victim from the Champions Royal Assembly Church in Newark. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Man pistol-whipped, shot during robbery on Queens shuttle train, Texas man wanted for girlfriends murder kills himself after showing up at her memorial, Harrowing bodycam footage captures moment brave cop guns down neo-Nazi mass shooter at Texas mall, 3 people fatally shot, 1 stabbed to death in bloody start to summer in NYC. There had been no arrests as of Thursday morning, the local reports said. She taught me to believe when things didnt go quite the way you wanted. Memorial service for Councilwomen Eunice Dwumfour 2,596 shares By Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Prince and Mary Dwumfour stood behind the lectern of their church during a. While Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced a charge of first-degree murder against Rashid Bynum, 28, she did not speak at all about a motive for why he allegedly killed her. ", "I need justice for my daughter," said her mother, Mary Dwumfour as she broke down crying that day. It is unclear if that footage has been made available to the public. [4] And she stated that Mr Bynums phone allegedly showed he had travelled from Virginia to New Jersey at the time of the killing, and the devices data showed it return immediately afterwards. She was a beautiful motivated person, who did very well in the community," Ms Dwumfours former campaign manager Karen Bailey Bebert, told ABC7. Her career of public service was just beginning, and by all accounts she had already built a reputation as a committed member of the Borough Council who took her responsibility with the utmost diligence and seriousness, Mr Murphy said in a statement after her death. Eunice Christopher was born on 26 July 1924 in the USA. There is no answer that doesn't offend humanity. Anthony Johnson has the story. Last year ceremonies were held in New Jersey and Africa celebrating Dwumfour's marriage to Eze Kings Akwue, a pastor in Nigeria. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. She was married last year to a leader of her church, Champions Royal Assembly, a congregation based in Nigeria, according to messages she and her husband, Eze Kings, posted on Facebook. Many of the mourners Wednesday night said they were congregants from a Pentecostal church where Ms. Dwumfour worshiped as a child in Newark and from Champions Royal Assembly. Virginie Dufour is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2022 Quebec general election. 1 priority," Ms.. A Virginia man has been arrested for the murder of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was gunned down outside her home in February. "Eunice was a dedicated member of our Borough Council who was truly committed to serve all of our residents. Developed a criminal history. Dwumfour's parents and the family's pastor had long expressed frustration that Middlesex County Prosecutor Ciccone was extremely tight-lipped as she investigated their daughter's murder. Graig Graziosi reports, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Something you would hear, you know, if somebody wanted to kill somebody, Sgrillo said. They said she was coming home . Eunice Dwumfour:Husband of slain Sayreville councilwoman posts Facebook tribute from Nigeria. New Jersey Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was gunned down outside her home late Wednesday, crashing her car after being repeatedly shot while behind the wheel, officials said. He said Bynum always came to church alone, and he was not aware of any relationship between the two, telling NJ.com: Im not seeing any reason why he would (kill Dwumfour). A Virginia man has been arrested for the murder of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was gunned down outside her home in February. A male witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Post Thursday that Dwumfours car was hit with about 12 shots while traveling down Check Avenuetoward Samuel Circlearound 7:15 p.m. Bynum attended the church from 2015 to 2017, the church's chief financial officer Wilson Adubasim told NJ.com Wednesday. Read more: Funeral for slain Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour held in Newark In an interview two weeks ago, Dwumfour's 12-year-old daughter, Nicole Teliano, said she thought she was hearing . Beyond her dedication to our community, I can share that she was a woman of deep faith and worked hard to integrate her strong Christian beliefs in to her daily life as a person and a community leader. 3. She was a mother to a. "I heard loud gunshots, at least five in a row, and then I think there was a little delay and then I think five more. Happy with her daughter, and she was living the life, the American dream. Police are searching for any motive in the murder of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour on Wednesday night. A man in Virginia has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of Eunice Dwumfour, a 30-year-old councilwoman who was found shot to death in her car in Sayreville . Eunice Dwumfour was shot and killed outside her home in February. All rights reserved. Facebook gives. Ms. Ciccone offered no information about a possible suspect, but she did say that there was no ongoing threat to the community.. A spokesperson for the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office told the New York Post that there were no updates to provide on the case as it was still under investigation. If you knew Eunice, you'd know that besides her faith, her world revolved around her daughter Nicole," is written on the page. Ms. Dwumfour was shot at about 7:20 p.m. last Wednesday outside her apartment in Parlin, an unincorporated section of Sayreville. We're left with an emptiness that she won't be here to see her dreams and goals and her potential fulfilled and those of her family and her beautiful daughter.. Bynum, who lives in Portsmouth, Virginia, is awaiting extradition to the Garden State. The fellowship is also affiliated with the Champion Royal Assembly, which Dwumfour belonged to at the time of her death, Ciccone said. "Please, God, help us.". Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This is our No. When he arrives, he will be held at theMiddlesex County Adult Correctional facility while he waits for a pre-trial detention hearing in the state Superior Court. Sheila Oliver, adding she doesn't want the family to forget the impact Dwumfour had. Im hoping that the Council in their deliberations is going to find the proper candidate that is going to reflect the same type of principles that Eunice embodied and if that doesnt happen, its up to us as a community and the leaders that are seated at that dais to help that person get on track, Kilpatrick said. A witness told The Post that the shooter hit Dwumfours car with about a dozen shots. She was the liaison to public safety, which includes police, fire and EMS, as well as liaison to the Sayreville Human Relations Commission. This page is not available in other languages. Chilling Snapchat footage of the aftermath of the incident shows Dwumfours body in the car while first responders surround the scene. New Cancer Care Center Opens In East Brunswicks Medical Mile, First-Ever Middlesex County Jazz Festival Will Be Sept. 28 - Oct. 1. Eunice Dwumfour's mother and husband were among those who spoke publicly on Wednesday, FOX 5 NY's Jessica Formoso reports. Dwumfour was found dead in her vehicle with several gunshot wounds by Sayreville police officers who went to Samuel Circle off Ernston Road in the Parlin section after receiving a 911 call at 7:22 p.m. Feb. 1 of gunshots fired, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. It's unclear if the video is from one of the wedding celebrations. [3][4] A suspect, Rashid Ali Bynum, was arrested on May 30, 2023 in connection with the murder. On a personal note, I cant adequately express my feelings of sorrow at the loss of a friend.. Justice for you" and included three crying emojis. It does not appear to be related to her position as an elected councilwoman in Sayreville., Sayresville City Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was found dead outside her home with multiple gunshot wounds in what police believe to be a targeted killing.