Police: 1 dead, 1 wounded in Millville shootings

MILLVILLE – Police say a 26-year-old Millville man was shot to death early Monday in a South Millville apartment complex and a second man from Port Norris also was wounded there, although it is not clear yet if the two shootings are related.

Additionally, police are investigating shots fired in two parts of the Third Ward about a half-hour earlier. No one is known to have been hit in those two cases, police said.

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Police did not release a name for the deceased man in the South Millville shootings. Police are attempting to contact his family.

Monday's fatality is the first homicide by shooting this year in Millville, but the city's second homicide in 2016.   Police have responded to at least 16 reports of shots fired from July 1-22 with four confirmed. The latest incident was an unconfirmed report on South 2nd Street.

Police have initially  identified the wounded man only as a 25-year-old from Port Norris. He was in Inspira Medical Center Vineland in stable condition with a gunshot wound to one knee, police said.

Detective Lt. Ross Hoffman stated that officers were sent at 12:59 a.m. Monday to the Delsea Gardens and Delsea Village apartment complexes, adjacent to one another at 2313 and 2223 South 2nd Street, in response to a possible shooting.

Hoffman stated arriving officers found one man lying near a flag pole who had been shot several times.

The Millville Rescue Squad took that man to Inspira Medical Center Vineland. He was pronounced dead there a short time later. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, police said.

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“At least seven spent shell casings were recovered from the scene,” Hoffman stated. “Three buildings near the 11 and 21 buildings were struck by gunfire as well.”

Hoffman said witnesses told police a second man was struck in the leg and already had been driven to the Vineland hospital.

In the earlier incidents, officers responded  at 12:33 a.m. Monday to the area of Buck and Green streets for a report of shots fired. Officers found five spent shell casings in the intersection and on the lawn of a residence.

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Hoffman said another shooting occurred at 19 East McNeal Street. Six spent casings were found in a yard and an alleyway.

Monday afternoon, police were sent to the 300 block of East Oak Street for a report of shots fired. One shell casing was recovered, police said.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents can contact the police station at (856) 825-7010 or the anonymous Tip Line at (856) 825-2182.

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com