Man in jail in Rhode Island charged as fugitive in 2008 New Jersey cold case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A man incarcerated in Rhode Island now faces a fugitive from justice charge in a 2008 cold case murder in New Jersey.

On December 4,  members of the ACI Investigations Unit charged 42-year-old Jason Howard as a fugitive from justice from the State of New Jersey on an original offense of murder.

In April, he and Breyon Goodman, 36, of Trenton were officially charged with 1st degree murder, 1st degree felony murder, and 1st degree robbery in connection with the 2008 robbery and fatal beating of Leroy Julious in Ewing Township, New Jersey.

According to New Jersey’s Attorney General, Howard was served the original murder complaint in Rhode Island, while he was serving jail time.

According to court documents, Howard was charged with felony assault in 2016, 2018, 2022, and twice in 2023.

On May 9, 2008, Ewing Police responded to the report of a caller stating that the victim, Leroy Julious, was injured and on the ground, bleeding, according to officials.

Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle parked diagonally in front of a residence at the scene.

There were multiple individuals on scene, including Howard, who was standing outside of the open driver’s door of the vehicle.

Witnesses directed officers Julious, who was lying on the ground in a gravel lot.

According to officials, the victim had severe head trauma, with blood on his face, head and neck, and officers noticed his pockets were turned inside out.

Julious was pronounced dead at the scene.