Prosecutors: Firebombs Hurled at NJ Home; Two New York Men Charged

Two New York men — Tashaun Normand, 42, of the Bronx, and Tahkem Boynton, 28, of Fresh Meadows — have been indicted in connection with a Molotov cocktail firebombing that targeted a vehicle and a home on Belmont Drive in South Toms River.

What Happened

On March 23, 2026, around 3:15 p.m., South Toms River Police and the Manitou Park Fire Company responded to a vehicle fire outside a residence. First responders found:

• A 2010 GMC Terrain burning from the inside
• A second fire in a grassy area next to the home
• A broken glass bottle and another bottle filled with liquid and a rag — consistent with a Molotov cocktail

Investigators determined the SUV fire originated at the front windshield and was intentionally set using an open flame and combustible materials. Prosecutors allege Normand threw multiple Molotov cocktails at the SUV and toward the residence.

The Investigation

A multi‑agency investigation included:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit – Arson Squad
• South Toms River Police Detective Bureau
• Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office
• Ocean County Sheriff’s CSI Unit

Detectives say Boynton conspired with Normand to carry out the arson and was present at the scene.

Arrests & Charges

• Normand was arrested on March 30, 2026, in Monroe County, Tennessee by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and later extradited to New Jersey, where he remains jailed.
• Boynton is currently held in a New York correctional facility on an unrelated matter.

Both men were indicted on:

• Two counts of aggravated arson
• Conspiracy to commit aggravated arson
• Two counts of unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon (Molotov cocktails)

Context & Significance

Molotov cocktail attacks are rare in Ocean County, and prosecutors emphasized the coordinated response that prevented the fires from spreading further. The incident occurred in a residential neighborhood during daytime hours, increasing the potential danger to nearby homes and residents.

South Toms River Police – Facebook