Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office are asking the general public for help in locating a 21-year-old Manville man for his alleged involvement in a recent murder.
Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced on Thursday that the Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the whereabouts and arrest of Isaiah J. “Ike” Bell.
According to officials, Mr. Bell was charged in Somerset County Superior Court with 1st Degree Murder on Sept. 6, for the murder of James M. Kargbo, which took place the previous day.
Police said the incident took place at approximately 11:23 a.m. on Mon., Sept. 5 when a Franklin Township Patrol Unit came upon a single motor vehicle crash which occurred on the north side of Route 27 in North Brunswick.
As that accident was under investigation, officials at the Franklin Township Police Department said they received a 9-1-1 call reporting shots fired in the vicinity of Westminster Road, which was near the crash site.
The investigating officers noted that the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Mr. Kargbo, was bleeding profusely. He was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – New Brunswick, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.
Mr. Kargbo’s death was later determined to be a homicide by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark.
During the course of the investigation, detectives ascertained that Mr. Kargbo and Mr. Bell were involved in a physical altercation in the area of Coventry Lane and Westminster Road. After the altercation, officials said Mr. Bell fled from the area in a 4-door sedan, which was later recovered by police.
Mr. Kargbo then entered his vehicle, which his 6-year-old son was sitting in, and attempted to drive onto Route 27. Mr. Kargbo’s vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a nearby medical building.
Officials at the Prosecutor’s Office said the 6 year old was unharmed in the crash and was later released to a family member.
Detectives are currently searching for Mr. Bell and are asking the public for any information.
Mr. Bell’s last known address is Brooks Blvd. in Manville. He is 21 years old, stands 6-1 and weighs approximately 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.
Tipsters interested in collecting the reward must call the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888- 577-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.
All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
