A New York man who was found guilty in June of murdering Steven Stallworth of Brick outside the Hampton Gardens Apartments in Toms River in a 2018 drug deal gone wrong was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that Anthony Barksdale, 26, was also found guilty by the jury of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose and Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Person.
Prosecutor Billhimer extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collective assistance which led to Barksdale’s arrest, conviction, and sentence to life in prison.
“This was a brutal and senseless murder. I am beyond proud of the teamwork exhibited by members of my office, along with the other law enforcement agencies involved in solving this heinous crime, for their exceptional and combined efforts which ultimately resulted in this defendant being brought to justice.” Prosecutor Billhimer said.“It is my sincere hope that Barksdale being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole provides some measure of peace and closure to Mr. Stallworth’s family, who have been forced to endure needless and unspeakable suffering since that horrible day in March 2018. Justice has finally been accomplished in Steven’s name, and for his family.”
On March 5, 2018, Steven Stallworth was found unresponsive by responding officers and EMS crews outside of building "D" suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Barksdale's and the other suspect Sevon Hill's names then came up as possible suspects who were both living at a local hotel prior to the murder.
A check of their room on the night by law enforcement of the murder uncovered a mass amount of cocaine and heroin.