13-Year-Old Charged In Atlantic City Shooting

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - A 13-year-old juvenile was charged in connection with an Atlantic City shooting in an apartment building on Tuesday that injured two men, authorities said.

The juvenile, who is from Atlantic City, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and related offenses. He was remanded to Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center. Two individuals that were in the apartment were released without charges.

“I am proud of the quick response, dedication and teamwork exhibited by the officers of the ACPD who responded to this call and were able to quickly identify and peacefully apprehend the perpetrator of this violent crime,” Interim Officer in Charge James Sarkos said in a statement.

Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, patrol officers responded to a report of a shooting and a ShotSpotter alert in the area of the 1700 block of Atlantic Avenue. Responding officers arrived and located evidence of gunfire but couldn’t immediately locate any victims at the scene.

Two male shooting victims, 30 and 34, both of Atlantic City, arrived at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center soon after for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

An investigation conducted by officers, detectives, and the city’s Violent Crimes Unit found the shooter entered the rear of the three-story apartment building.

Shortly after, Lieutenant Alexus Zeilinger, who is a crisis negotiator, contacted the juvenile via cell phone. After about an hour of speaking and negotiating with the teen, Zeilinger was able to convince the shooting suspect, as well as two additional individuals, to surrender peacefully and exit the premises. Three individuals were ultimately taken into police custody.

The investigation led to a search of the apartment and the retrieval of the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.

Atlantic City Emergency Response Team, which includes SWAT, Crisis Negotiation Team, the Mobile Command Post and the Bomb Squad, also responded to the scene.

Anyone with information about this shooting incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Violent Crimes Unit at 609-347-5766. Information can be texted to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous.