An Atlantic City man charged in a shooting allegedly targeted his victim, according to information obtained by BreakingAC
No motive of the shooting was mentioned in the affidavit of probable cause provided to BreakingAC.
Tinitigan was driving his black Mercedes with a gun that day, the affidavit states. But when he was arrested this week, it was a Pleasantville man who was behind the wheel and allegedly armed.
Eliu Mejia, also 19, ran into a convenience store in the 3900 block of Ventnor Avenue, within steps of the shooting scene.
Mejia was found by Sgt. Joshua Schwenger and Officer Dylan Imbrenda in the rear of the store trying to hide from police, Sgt. Paul Aritistizabal said. A handgun was found in the toilet tank of a small bathroom nearby.
It was not confirmed if that was the gun used in the shooting.
The victim, whose name is not being released, was driving his sister to Island Gym on West End Avenue before 2 p.m. Jan. 13, when he saw "Ivan" in a black Mercedes across from at a light at Albany Avenue, he told police, according to the affidavit.
The victim told his sister that Ivan was following them and "it was a problem" right before the shooting, the affidavit states.
Tinitigan then returned to his home on North Laclede Place with a woman, went inside and came out with different pants on, "likely to support the weight of a handgun," the detective theorizes in her report.
Surveillance video tracks him heading toward the crime scene, the affidavit states.
"Tinitigan is observed acquiring his target as he approaches the victim," the detective writes.
There is audio and video of the shooting, according to the affidavit.
Tinitigan is seen looking over at the victim as he flees, it states.
He is seen "clutching his right side with a wide-open palm grip, consistent with him holding a firearm under his clothing," the detective wrote.
An investigation by the Violent Crimes Unit led to Tinitigan's identity and a flyer with his information and a description of his car was put out to officers, Aristizabal said.
Officers Bayron Zelaya-Chaves and Ivan Crus saw the vehicle at 7:46 Wednesday night, parked at the corner of Dover and Ventnor avenues, just a block from where the shooting happened.
Three men were seen leave a convenience store there, including one they recognized as Tinitigan, according to the report.
The officers stopped the car and found Tinitigan in the front passenger seat. He was arrested without incident, Aristizabal said.
Mejia fled, and was later arrested.
Police also got help from a retired officer, who witnessed the shooting from a nearby business, the affidavit states. The officer, who is not named, gave a description of the shooter and his direction of flight, the affidavit states. Two spent shell casings were also found outside Wally's Barber Shop just a short distances from the shooting.
Tinitigan is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Mejia is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and tampering with evidence.
Both are in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending detention hearings.
