3 Teens Charged as Adults in Fatal Pier Village Shooting

Dispute that started on TikTok led to the killing of 18-year-old Chrystofer Whyte in Long Branch, New Jersey

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Three teenagers, Dwayne Exilus (19), Isaiah Z. Walker (19), and Jahbron Goff (18), have been indicted and will be tried as adults for the first-degree murder of 18-year-old Chrystofer Whyte in Long Branch, New Jersey. The shooting occurred last June at Pier Village, where Whyte was killed due to a dispute that started on the social media platform TikTok.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing issue of online disputes escalating to real-world violence, as well as the challenges facing the juvenile justice system in handling serious crimes committed by minors. The fatal shooting also occurred in a popular tourist area, raising concerns about public safety and security measures in crowded beach destinations.

The details

According to prosecutors, the three teens from Woodbridge Township drove to Long Branch on June 12, 2025, after seeing Whyte's TikTok post about being at the beach. They allegedly confronted and shot Whyte, who was a TikTok influencer with a large following. Whyte was found dead on the beach from a single gunshot wound.

  • On June 12, 2025, the shooting occurred at around 8:58 PM at Pier Village in Long Branch.
  • Whyte had posted a video to his TikTok profile earlier that same day, which prosecutors believe prompted the three teens to travel to Long Branch.
  • In the months prior to the shooting, Whyte had been "antagonized" by the three teens in the comments of his TikTok videos.

The players

Dwayne Exilus

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge Township who has been indicted for first-degree murder and illegal weapons offenses in connection with the shooting.

Isaiah Z. Walker

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge Township who has been indicted for first-degree murder and illegal weapons offenses in connection with the shooting.

Jahbron Goff

An 18-year-old from Woodbridge Township who has been indicted for first-degree murder, the most serious charge, as well as illegal weapons offenses in connection with the shooting.

Chrystofer Whyte

The 18-year-old victim who was killed in the shooting. He was a TikTok influencer with a large following of 98,000 followers.

Jaiden Roche

Whyte's 20-year-old best friend, who said the dispute that led to the shooting started on one of Whyte's TikTok Live videos.

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What they’re saying

“He was doing TikTok full time and he was making a good living with it, too. It was one of his TikTok Live videos a couple months ago... Some of these kids — they're from Linden — started calling him names in the comments. I think this whole situation was about egos, back and forth online.”

— Jaiden Roche, Whyte's best friend

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the three teens out on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the growing danger of online disputes escalating to real-world violence, especially among young people. It highlights the need for better education, moderation, and intervention to prevent such conflicts from turning deadly.