Atlantic County ended 2024 with just one homicide remaining unsolved.
The Prosecutor’s Office made arrests in 15 of the 16 killings last year, Prosecutor William Reynolds announced Thursday. Eighteen people have been charged in the killings.
The 93.75 percent solve rate came as the area saw a decline in homicides in the past few years, with a high of 30 in 2012.
There were 14 in 2022, and 12 in 2023.
Reynolds also announced a decline in non-fatal shootings in Atlantic City, confirming the mayor’s insistence that violent crimes are dropping.
There were 40 shootings that were not fatal in the city in 2021. That number has dropped over the last few years, with a low of 21 last year, Reynolds said.
“This achievement underscores the dedicated efforts of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic City Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit, and the office’s strong partnerships with state, federal and local law enforcement agencies,” the prosecutor said.
Reynolds attributed the reduction in non-fatal shootings and homicides to intelligence-driven policing, coordinated task force operations and “an unwavering commitment to justice.”
“This achievement is a direct result of the outstanding work of our detectives, police officers, and partner agencies who put their lives on the line daily to protect our communities,” he said.
Reynolds said the partnership of his office’s Major Crimes Unit and the ACPD’s Violent Crimes Unit along with federal, state and municipal partners, “has leveraged advanced investigative techniques, cutting-edge forensic analysis, and community cooperation to drive these positive outcomes.”
“By prioritizing inter-agency collaboration, law enforcement has been able to swiftly apprehend violent offenders, preventing further harm to the community,” he said.
Atlantic City’s VCU solved 90 percent of the non-fatal shootings in 2023, and 81 percent last year, according to the numbers released Thursday.
Several could be traced to juveniles, with 16 minors charged in connection with shootings in 2023 and 2024.
There are about 25 juveniles currently detained pending cases in juvenile court in Atlantic City.
“The need to detain shooters is paramount for public safety as today’s shooters are tomorrow’s victims,” Reynolds said.
His prosecutors have argued at many detention hearings to have those with gun charges held pending trial, stressing the need to keep the community safe.
“ACPO remains committed to ensuring public safety and will continue strengthening partnerships and enhancing investigative capabilities to maintain this positive trend,” Reynolds said.
But even one murder is one too many, he stressed.
Last year’s one unsolved homicide was Shawn O’Neill Jr., 42, who was found dead with several wounds to his body inside an Odessa Avenue home in Galloway Township.
Little information has been released in that crime.
Anyone with information about that or any criminal cases can call the Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office at www.ACPO.tips.
The Atlantic City Police Department also allows anonymous tips to be texted to tip411 (847411). Tipsters just need to begin the text with ACPD. All identifying information is scrubbed from the text, while allowing the reporter to have an ongoing conversation with police, including providing photos or video.
