18 hours ago
Influencer shared photo before being shot dead on beach in New Jersey
A popular influencer posted a video at a beach in New Jersey just hours before he was shot dead.
Chrystofer A Whyte, 18, also known as @ on TikTok, was shot and killed at the Long Branch beach on the evening of June 12, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Whyte had posted a video of himself lounging on the sand and captioned it #longbranch.
The Long Branch Police Department responded to reports of a shooting just before 9pm and discovered that Whyte had suffered a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two suspects were arrested in connection to the shooting - a juvenile, whose name wasn't released, and a teenager named Dwayne Exilus, 18.
Exilus was hit with a raft of second-degree charges relating to unlawful possession of a weapon. He faces murder charges in addition to possession of a weapon and hindering.
The investigation into Whyte's murder remains ongoing. Anyone with information relating to his death has been asked to contact the Long Branch Police or the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Exilus has been in trouble with the police before. He was arrested in April in connection to a shooting at an Applebee's.
The Linden Police said at the time that four men, including Exilus, entered the restaurant and chased another man into the parking lot.
Shots were fired but no injuries were reported and the suspects fled the scene. Exilus pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was ordered to pay a fine.
Authorities haven't released a motive for Whyte's death and it's unclear what his relationship was to the suspects.
The TikToker's friend, Jaiden Roche, told the local New Jersey Patch that he believed his friend's death was related to a social media feud.
Roche told the outlet that kids from Linden were making fun of Whyte during a TikTok live.
'I think this whole situation was about egos, back and forth online. Chrys is a very humble person, but the one thing he doesn't tolerate is disrespect,' he told the outlet.
Roche speculated that Whyte's last TikTok at the beach was what led to his untimely death.
'They [the suspects] saw his TikTok post and they ended up coming to the beach. They came to the beach knowing they would start problems,' Roche said.
'He had told these kids, let's fight. I guess these kids had something more than a fight in mind.'
Long Beach was reportedly packed on the night of Whyte's death, with witnesses telling the Patch that they started running after hearing gunshots.
reached out to the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for more information on the suspects' relationships to Whyte and a potential motive.
Roche told local news that his best friend was working at the U.S. Postal Service but was trying to be a full-time TikTok influencer.
Roche set up a GoFundMe for Whyte's family to support costs for the funeral. 'He [Whyte] meant so much to everyone , this tragedy has a huge impact on his family & friends , he was very loved by many and this all still seems like a dream,' the description read.
His last video generated over six million likes and thousands of comments expressing condolences to Whyte's family.
'This is so sad. Sending condolences and praying for his family at this time. Chrys was in my class my very first year of teaching [heart emoji],' one comment read.
'Nothing is more jarring than opening the comments and finding out this is someone's last video of themself, may he rest in peace,' another wrote.
'I love you , my brother since 7th grade , we did everything together , you pushed me to be a better person and get my life on track , im gonna continue to prosper and make you proud,' a third added.
'I can't even believe what I woke up to. u had such a good heart,' wrote a fourth.
