A rising TikTok influencer was fatally shot on a New Jersey beach just hours after posting his final video from the same location where he would die, authorities announced as two suspects face charges in connection with the killing.
Chrystofer A. Whyte, 18, of North Brunswick, was found suffering from a single gunshot wound at Pier Village in Long Branch at 8:58 p.m. on June 12. The Long Branch Police Department responded to reports of a shooting, and Whyte was pronounced dead at the scene.
The content creator, who posted under the username hi.imchrys, had amassed more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and was approaching what industry professionals consider macro-influencer status. On the day of his death, Whyte shared two videos on the platform, including his final post filmed from the beach where he was later killed.
In his last video, Whyte appeared sitting in a striped blue beach chair wearing pink swim trunks, panning the camera to show beachgoers behind him. The 11-second clip was tagged with #longbranch and has since received more than 4 million views. His earlier video that day showed him reclining in a chair with the caption warning followers to stay away from people who ignore them until they need them.
Two suspects have been charged in connection with Whyte’s death, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. A juvenile defendant, whose name is being withheld due to his age, faces multiple charges including murder, conspiracy to commit unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a prohibited weapon and hindering. The minor is currently being held at a juvenile detention center.
Dwayne Exilus, 18, of Woodbridge, was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree hindering, and fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon. Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Friends of Whyte indicated that local individuals had recently been harassing the influencer during his TikTok live videos, calling him names and antagonizing him. Jaiden Roche, a close friend of the victim, suggested the situation stemmed from ego conflicts, though it remains unclear whether the charged suspects were involved in the alleged bullying or if they knew Whyte personally.
Beyond his social media presence, Whyte was a student-athlete at Woodbridge High School, where he played football and wrestled. He graduated from the school in 2024 and competed as a running back and defensive back for the football team.
Joseph LaSala, Whyte’s former football coach who worked with him for three seasons, paid tribute to the teenager following news of his death. LaSala described Whyte as “an unbelievable kid” who brought energy and enthusiasm to the program daily. The coach indicated that Whyte was respectful, focused, and a joy to coach, calling the situation heartbreaking.
The shooting occurred as a free oldies concert was ending at the beach location, described by authorities as a tribute to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Officials characterized Whyte’s shooting as an isolated incident, though videos circulating on social media showed a scuffle on the beach that evening.
Following Whyte’s death, his TikTok followers and users who discovered his content began collectively grieving and offering support through the platform. His final video received more than 4,500 comments, with thousands of condolence messages from Generation Z users expressing their sorrow over his passing.
Roche has established a GoFundMe campaign to assist Whyte’s family with funeral expenses, which has raised nearly $16,000. The fundraising effort reflects the impact Whyte had on his community and online following, with Roche describing the tragedy’s significant effect on family and friends.
The investigation involves members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Long Branch Police Department. Authorities are requesting anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Thomas Manzo at 800-533-7443 or Long Branch Police Detective Joseph Spitale at 732-222-1000, extension 1339.
Investigators are also seeking firsthand video footage of the incident, specifically requesting that individuals with relevant recordings upload them through the prosecutor’s office evidence portal rather than sharing links to videos posted by others.
