As friends and family of Carl Beebe Jr. mourn the loss of a father, son, husband and brother, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the man's death. A Collingswood teenager is in custody in connection with the incident.
Matt Skoufalos April 3, 2024
On March 23, just after 10 p.m., 46-year-old Oron Carl Beebe Jr. was allegedly assaulted by a 16-year-old boy from Collingswood in the parking lot of a Mount Ephraim Walgreens.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office (CCPO), Beebe Jr. was injured in the encounter, which was later determined to be fatal.
The case is still under investigation, but authorities have released few details, mainly because the defendant is a juvenile.
However, witnesses confirmed that both parties were seen at Bobby Reyes Black Horse Tavern in Mount Ephraim several hours before the attack.
Bobby Ray Harris, owner of Black Horse Tavern, said the atmosphere that night was mostly upbeat.
“It was a nice, calm night here,” Harris said. “Everyone is tipping and eating their food. People are enjoying the place.”
The pub was hosting a viewing party for the NCAA Wrestling Championship finals, the room was packed and all the TVs were tuned to the match.
Coaches, parents, students and alumni from several South Jersey high school wrestling programs were on hand for the match, which began around 7 p.m. A buffet was set up for the wrestlers and a deejay added to the atmosphere.
But the Biebs weren't there to watch wrestling, Harris said, and they never passed the boy from Collingswood.
The tavern owner knew from a previous visit that Beebe Jr. was called by his middle name, Carl. He is remembered as his UPS driver and his wife Jennifer as a school teacher and “lover of women.”
He said he did not recognize the teenage defendant who died.
“From what the bouncer told me, they left a few minutes apart,” Harris said.
“They had no interaction at all until they got to Walgreens.”
According to one patron who was there that night, speaking on condition of anonymity, the watch party drew a sizable crowd, and after the tavern's grounds were filled to capacity, the tavern opened on Mount Ephraim Avenue. Customers began parking at the Walgreens across the street, he said.
It is believed that an assault occurred there.
“It was cool at first, but it was getting late and some kids were stuck out there,” said a patron.
“Suddenly, as if they had received a message or something, I saw them all get up at once and rush out the door. From then on, we never saw them again.”
The next thing the same person recalled was hearing a woman yelling for someone to call 911. Mount Ephraim Police, whose headquarters are a few doors down Black Horse Pike, “arrived on scene quickly,” the user said.
Harris said the fatal encounter was an outlier in his years in the hospitality industry.
“The Eagles-Cowboys game had more problems,” he said.
CCPO investigators allege the boy punched Beebe Jr. in the head, causing the man to fall and hit his head on the pavement.
He was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden City in critical condition and died from his injuries eight days later, on March 31st.
The teenager apparently did not remain at the scene to speak with authorities, as he was arrested two days later in Cherry Hill by members of the Camden Division of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Deputies took the young man into custody on March 25 on suspicion of second-degree assault. He was ordered committed to the Camden County Youth Correctional Facility, where he remains.
On April 1, the day after Beebe Jr.'s death, the CCPO upgraded these charges to second-degree manslaughter, a charge secondary to reckless assault resulting in death. Adults convicted of such crimes face 10 to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000.
Jennifer and Oron Carl “Snook” Beebe Jr. have been married for 21 years. The couple had three children, Zachary, Brayden, and the late Oron Karl III.
His obituary memorialized Beebe Jr. as a “family-oriented man…” [who] I was never shy about hugs. ”
A league darts player who enjoyed the Coast, Philadelphia Eagles and yard games, he volunteered as a youth coach for Belmar Hockey, Mount Ephraim Baseball and Gloucester City Brawlers AAU Baseball.
“Snook always referred to himself as an 'equal opportunist' and treated every player on his team like his own children,” the notice states.
“He laughed with them, cried with them and celebrated with them in every moment.”
“Everyone who had the chance to have a beer with Snook has left his family behind,” his loved ones wrote. “He was happiest watching kids doing the things he loved, like hockey, baseball and football.
“The happiness Snook brought us will be forever cherished by his family and friends.”
Beebe Jr. is scheduled to be buried on Friday. The investigation into his death remains active. A crowdfunding campaign was organized for the Beeb family, and a meal train was also planned.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact CCPO Det. Felix Abreu at 856-225-8414 or the Mount Ephraim Police Department. Sergeant Kevin Sullivan (856-931-2225). Tips may also be submitted to his CAMDEN.TIPS.
A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.