Atlantic City Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault Indicted for Murder after Victim Dies

A grand jury recently indicted a man on murder charges in connection with a shooting in Atlantic City in November 2009. What makes this murder indictment more interesting than usual is that the suspect had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges stemming from the shooting. The reason for the enhanced criminal charges against the suspect is that the shooting went from being non-fatal to fatal when the victim eventually passed away.

The suspect is a 27-year-old man from Atlantic City, New Jersey. On November 22, 2009, he allegedly got into an altercation at Hudson’s Bar and Grill, which is located on New York Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ. According to witnesses at the restaurant, management had to kick the suspect out of the establishment when he became drunk and disorderly.

Shortly after being told to leave the bar, the suspect allegedly returned and used a sawed-off shotgun to fire two shots.

The victim, Malik “Naya” Green, was shot in the neck and sustained significant physical injuries as a result of the shooting. He ended up paralyzed from the neck down and lived out the rest of his days without the use of his arms or legs.

Exactly one month after the shooting incident, Atlantic City police located and arrested the suspect. He was subsequently charged with numerous crimes, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Atlantic County NJ prosecutors later dropped the attempted murder charges when the suspect agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault. In November 2012, the suspect appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court for a formal sentencing hearing and was sentenced to a term of incarceration of eight years in New Jersey State Prison.

Now the suspect could be looking at an even lengthier prison term. That’s because the victim died on January 22, 2014, prompting prosecutors to file murder charges against the already-incarcerated suspect.

The victim, who lived in Atlantic City NJ, was 30 years old at the time of his death. The suspect, who is currently 27 years of age, could wind up spending the rest of his life behind bars if he is ultimately convicted on the first degree murder charges.

For more information, read the NJ.com article, “Man Indicted for Murder 7 Years after Atlantic City Shooting.”

If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a violent crime in South Jersey, you need a qualified criminal defense lawyer handling your case. The experienced Atlantic County criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of John W. Tumelty are ready to help you fight your criminal charges. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.