Tyshaun Drummond, 42, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murders of Nicholas Hardy, 36, and Sergio Chavez-Perez, 32, after a tragic incident in Toms River, New Jersey. Drummond was convicted of two counts of murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and burglary. The killings occurred on December 19, 2021, at an apartment complex where Drummond shot both victims in the face, an act he later confessed to during his arrest.
The events unfolded when Lakewood Township police responded to a report of shots fired. Upon arriving at the scene, officers encountered Drummond outside the apartment complex and ordered him to lie down. Drummond initially refused to comply, prompting police to use a stun gun on him. Body camera footage captured the moment, during which Drummond confessed, “I shot everybody in the face.” Police then discovered the bodies of the two victims inside the apartment, both of whom had been shot in the head.
The investigation revealed that Drummond had been having an affair with Chavez-Perez’s wife, Araceli Perez. The relationship between the two was revealed through text messages exchanged between them, including one in which Perez referred to Drummond as “my love and future husband.” The affair appeared to have played a significant role in the tragic events that led to the murders. The night before the killings, Chavez-Perez reportedly made ominous statements, telling his wife that “somebody’s going to die.” Perez testified that her husband had grabbed a knife, which led her to send a warning message to Drummond, informing him that her husband had left the house with a knife.
In the aftermath of the murders, a GoFundMe page was created to help support the family of Chavez-Perez, who was a father of three. The page noted that while no amount of money could bring him back, the community hoped to alleviate some of the financial burden left on his family by covering funeral expenses and other basic needs. Drummond’s actions have left a lasting impact on the victims’ families, and the case serves as a tragic reminder of the destructive consequences of infidelity and violence.
The case also highlighted the chilling nature of the crime, with Drummond’s brazen confession and the details of the affair coming to light during the trial. The jury convicted him after a nearly monthlong trial, and the sentencing brings some measure of justice to the victims and their families. Drummond will now serve a lengthy prison sentence for his role in this senseless act of violence.
