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Man charged with fatal beating of NJ volunteer firefighter
By Ralph R. Ortega
The New Jersey Star-Ledger

HAZLET, NJ — A man arrested in Philadelphia has been charged in the fatal beating of a Hazlet volunteer firefighter, authorities said yesterday.

Tyrone Price, 22, was arrested at an acquaintance's home Saturday evening by members of the Holmdel and Philadelphia police departments and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, according to authorities.

Price's arrest came a little more than a day after Kevin Martin, 45, an electrical contractor and member of the Hazlet Volunteer Fire Department, was found dead in the driveway of his Mulberry Lane home in Holmdel, said Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter Warshaw Jr.

A 911 call sent authorities to Martin's house about 4 p.m. Friday, Warshaw said. He declined to say who made the emergency call.

An autopsy performed Saturday determined Martin died of "blunt-force, traumatic injury," the first assistant prosecutor said.

Authorities said Price's last-known address was the Pan American Motel in Eatontown. An employee who answered the phone at the motel confirmed Price formerly lived there but declined further comment.

Warshaw would not elaborate on the relationship between Price and Martin.

"It's still under investigation," he said.

Hazlet resident Phillip Penta said he and the victim had been friends for 20 years, and he now lives in the home on Craig Street where Martin grew up.

Penta said Martin served his hometown as a firefighter for about 15 years, and also worked as an electrical inspector for several towns.

Penta, who said he does not know Price, added that his friend may have been killed because of a financial dispute.

"Kevin was such a decent and good person," he said. "He helped the community in all the ways he could."

Martin was not married and did not have children, Penta said.

The beating death left Martin's neighbors stunned.

"Nothing like this has happened before," said Bryan Zhu, who also lives on Mulberry Lane. "It's got everyone a bit edgy."

Price is charged with first-de gree murder, Warshaw said.

He is being held in a Philadelphia jail in lieu of $1 million bail, set by state Superior Court Judge Ira Kreizman in Freehold, according to Warshaw.

Price's extradition hearing will be held after the Labor Day holiday, he said.

Copyright 2008, The New Jersey Star-Ledger