Two individuals in New Jersey are facing legal repercussions for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of a well-known TikTok personality. The incident occurred on a beach where the victim, Chrystofer Whyte, 18, had been filming and sharing videos just hours before his death. Whyte’s final TikTok post, recorded on June 12, shows him taking a selfie on a Long Branch beach. Later that evening, around 9 p.m., he was shot and killed on the same beach, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Whyte was situated between the shoreline and the boardwalk of Pier Village when the alleged attack took place. The suspects, Dwayne Exilus, 18, from Woodbridge, and a minor whose identity is being withheld due to his age, are accused of opening fire on Whyte. The shooting occurred shortly after an outdoor music concert at Pier Village had concluded, resulting in numerous bystanders being caught in the crossfire.
Footage of the chaotic scene was captured on cellphones by local residents. The minor suspect is accused of shooting Whyte multiple times, while Exilus reportedly missed his shots. The exact motive behind the attack remains unclear. Friends of Whyte suggest that ongoing disputes with local youths, who had been seen provoking Whyte during his TikTok Live videos, may have played a role. However, law enforcement and prosecutors have not confirmed these claims or provided any additional information regarding the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Jaiden Roche, 19, a close friend of Whyte’s, believes the incident was a result of inflated egos. Roche, who started a GoFundMe campaign for Whyte’s family, was present at the beach during the incident. He alleges that the suspects arrived at the beach with the intention of causing trouble. According to Roche, Whyte had previously challenged these individuals to a fight, but they seemingly had more sinister intentions.
Whyte, who was a local football and wrestling star at Woodbridge High School, was discovered fatally shot on the Long Branch boardwalk. At the time of his death, he had amassed over 90,000 followers on TikTok. Roche recalls that Whyte had planned to enjoy a day at the beach with his friends and was earning a decent income from his full-time TikTok activities.
Exilus and the minor suspect have been charged with multiple offenses in relation to Whyte’s death. The minor faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit unlawful possession of a weapon, while Exilus is charged with conspiracy to commit unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, and hindering. The charges were made public on Monday by Monmouth County.