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Accused killer who fled juvenile detention was armed when captured

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https://www.facebook.com/lyndacohen.news/videos/1561568727271424/ An accused murderer who fled juvenile detention in Atlantic County was armed when he was arrested in Atlantic City, according to new charges. Michael Huggins, 18, and three other teens fled the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center in Egg Harbor City just after midnight Wednesday. The other three were captured hours later in Bridgeton, Huggins' hometown. But Huggins was not found. He was arrested at about 10:30 a.m. at an apartment in the 100 block of N. South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City, just a block from City Hall. Huggins also is charged with conspiracy in the escape, which was planned, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said during a press conference outside the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse. He did not have any information on any other arrests that came with Huggins. He did say that the people inside the apartment were cooperative. Huggins already faces murder and felony murder charges in the Oct. 7, 2016 killing of Davonte Lee, 21, an indictment shows. Huggins indictment
Lee was shot in a vehicle parked on the street where Huggins lives. Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said Huggins was waived up to adult court some time before a grand jury indicted him Sept. 20. He was originally charged as a juvenile, since he was 17 at the time of the killing. Atlantic County attorney Joseph Swift, who has worked on juvenile cases since he began practicing more than a dozen years ago, said usually juveniles are transferred to adult jails as soon as they are waived up. But Huggins' attorney, James Gerrow, says there is a statute keeping juveniles out of an adult jails. Tyner said a motion had been made to have Huggins transferred after the waiver, but it was denied. Gerrow said he had no record of that. Huggins appeared in court Nov. 6 in the murder case, Gerrow confirmed to BreakingAC. He said that was a typical appearance, and there was no indication of problems at that hearing. He said that law enforcement made the arrest without any violence was a relief to him and Huggins' mother. Since Huggins is now an adult, he was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility on the new charges. The other three teens are back in custody, but at a facility other than Harborfields. "The escape of four residents from the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center remains under investigation," said Sharon Lauchaire, spokeswoman for the Juvenile Justice Commission. "Local and state law enforcement collaborated quickly to locate the individuals who have been returned to custody at partnering juvenile detention centers, and will receive additional charges by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office." Tyner said he could not comment on the juveniles' charges due to their ages. https://breakingac.com/remaining-escapee-indicted-for-murder/
author

Lynda Cohen

Lynda Cohen founded BreakingAC after working as a local newspaper reporter for more than two decades. She is an NJPA award-winner and was a Stories of Atlantic City fellow.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024
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