Title: Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour's Murderer Charged: Justice Served? On a cold winter night in February, the first Black person elected to office in Sayreville, New Jersey, Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, was senselessly shot and killed in her car outside of her home. The community was rocked by her loss, and justice seemed like a far-off dream. But now, over a year later, there is some hope that justice may finally be served. Virginia man, Ed Shanahan, has been charged with Dwumfour's murder after an exhaustive investigation by law enforcement. While we don't yet know all of the details surrounding the case, it is a small comfort to know that someone is being held accountable for this heinous crime. But let's not sugarcoat it: the fact that it took over a year for an arrest to be made leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Would the case have been dragged out for so long if Dwumfour were a white councilwoman? It's hard not to wonder. And while we're glad that Shanahan is being held responsible, the larger issue of systemic racism still looms. We cannot bring Eunice Dwumfour back, but we can honor her legacy by continuing to fight for a more just and equitable society. It's not enough to simply hold one murderer accountable; we need to address the root causes of this type of violence. As long as racism continues to exist in our communities, we remain at risk of losing more trailblazers like Dwumfour. In the wake of this tragedy, we must take action. We can't let more time pass us by. Justice has been served for Eunice Dwumfour, but there is still so much work to be done. Eunice Dwumfour, the first Black person elected to office in Sayreville, N.J., was killed as she sat in her car outside her home in February.
![]()
