Shani Patel
Shani Patel (Toms River School District)
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A $10,000 reward has been posted for information leading to an arrest in the killing of Rutgers student Shani Patel from Toms River.

Patel was fatally shot around 10 p.m. Sunday; his roommate was shot and critically injured, authorities have said.

NJ Advance Media citied sources close to the investigation saying a substantial amount of drugs and money were found at the intersection of Central Ave and Halsey Street, and that the incident may have been a drug-related robbery.

Rutgers Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor wrote on the school's Facebook page that the shooting of the economics major was not random.  On Tuesday morning no arrests had been made.

Patel graduated from Toms River High School North in 2012.

“The Toms River Regional school district community was very sad to learn of the murder of High School North 2012 graduate Shani Patel," school district spokeswoman Tammi Millar said in a written statement. "It is hard whenever we lose such a young alumnus, but to lose Shani to violence is shocking. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shani’s family during this unimaginable and very sad time.”

Patel was sentenced to two years probation in 2014 in Toms River after police found him inside a car with 50 grams of marijuana, three empty sandwich bags and a digital scale.

No funeral arrangements have yet been announced for Patel.

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