Freehold H.S. grad slain on Throckmorton Street
Cops seek killer of former football player Rodney Keys
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

FREEHOLD - Although the motive for a homicide that occurred in Freehold Borough on May 3 has not yet been revealed, the bottom line is that Rodney Keys is dead. The Freehold Borough native left behind three children.

Keys, 39, who most recently lived in Asbury Park, was the victim of a shooting that occurred on Throckmorton Street shortly after 2 a.m. May 3.

More than a week after Keys was killed, family members and friends were still trying to come to grips with why he met with a violent death. As of May 9 there were no answers as to why Keys died and little information about what happened in the middle of the night.

Police said anyone with information about the case may call (732) 431-0420. Callers may leave information anonymously.

According to Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr., the shooting that claimed Keys' life occurred at about 2:09 a.m. on Throckmorton Street, across the street from the Walter J. Conley Elks lodge.

"A 911 call came in at about the same time reporting shots fired,"Warshaw said.

Warshaw said a 36-year-old Asbury Park man drove Keys to the Freehold Borough police station on Jackson Street. He said that man was also shot on Throckmorton Street, but was not critically injured.

Warshaw said he could not release the name of the man who drove Keys to the police station.

He said the shooting is under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Freehold Borough Police Department Detective Division.

"I can reveal very little about this case," Warshaw said.

According to Lorraine Keys, who is Rodney Keys' niece, her uncle and the man who was with him had attended a social event being held at the lodge that evening.

In addition to bearing the loss of her uncle and losing him in such a traumatic way, Keys, who is a resident at the Rug Mill Towers, Jackson Street, said she saw her uncle lying on the ground in front of the apartment complex from her apartment window.

The Freehold Borough Police station is adjacent to the RugMill Towers.Keys said it appeared that paramedics had been trying to save him.

"My uncle died right in front of my apartment," she said.

She said Keys graduated from Freehold High School in 1987, where he played football for the Colonials. She remembered her uncle as a "good-hearted" person who was "well loved."

Keys acknowledged that her uncle had served time in prison between 1997 and 2004 on charges related to armed robbery, drugs and aggravated assault.

Since his release, she said, he was trying to turn his life around, working as a barber and in the moving industry and being a good father to his children, Fidiya Story, 16, of Lakewood, Kadeja Lane, 14, of Red Bank, and Rakim Thorpe, 16, of Freehold. Keys was never married.

"Rodney was my mom's baby brother," Lorraine said sadly.

Adrienne Nesby, of Freehold Borough, a family friend and godmother to Rakim Thorpe, said she also attended high school with Rodney.

"Rodney was a very big help to anyone who needed it. He was also willing to give and had nice things to say about people," Nesby said.

Referring to Keys' criminal record, Nesby said, "People make mistakes, but he was turning his life around. He had pride in his kids and a very close relationship with his son, Rakim. His son is on the honor roll and plays football, just like Rodney did.

"Rodney exhibited a positive attitude, especially when he spoke about his children. He was trying to be a good, positive role model for his son. They were very close," Nesby said.