Last evening, tragedy struck in Sayreville, New Jersey, when Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was shot and killed outside her home.
The 30-year-old Republican was a dedicated member of the Borough Council, committed to serving all of Sayreville’s residents.
At 7:22pm, a 911 call reported shots fired in the area. Ms. Dwumfour was found dead in her vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.
Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick described the shooting as a “despicable criminal act,” and said that Ms. Dwumfour was a woman of deep faith who worked hard to integrate her Christian beliefs into her daily life. Kilpatrick shared, “On a personal note, I can’t adequately express my feeling of sorrow at the loss of a friend.”
Detective Juan Rodriguez and Pastor Doctor Nelia Rodriguez also reported the death on Facebook, saying that she was an amazing friend who loved God and was full of life. They shared, “We are so heartbroken to announce that our friend, Councilwoman from Sayreville, part of our HRC (Human Relation Commission), our personal friend, a woman of God Eunice Dwumfour was [murdered] tonight in Sayreville.”
Ms. Dwumfour was elected to the Borough Council in 2021, and her term was set to run until December 2024. She had received a B.A. in Women & Gender Studies from William Paterson University in Wayne.
“She was happy with her new husband. It seems. Happy with her daughter, and she was living the life, the American dream. She was a beautiful motivated person, who did very well in the community,” Dwumfour’s former campaign manager Karen Bailey Bebert told reporters. “I believe her daughter lit up her life. Jesus Christ lit up her life. She was very faithful and driven. She was a shining star.”
At this time, it is not clear if Ms. Dwumfour was the intended target of the shooting. However, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office announced today that a homicide is under investigation.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is asking anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area to call Detective Rebecca Morales of the Sayreville Police Department at 732–727–4444 or Detective Michelle Coppola of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732–745–3477.
According to a recent ABC News report the FBI is now involved.
“We are aware of the investigation into the death of Councilwoman Dwumfour, in Sayreville Wednesday evening. We have talked with our local law enforcement partners at the Sayreville Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Should they ask us for any assistance, we will do all we can to help their investigation,” the FBI said in a statement.
