A man was charged and arrested yesterday in connection with the stabbing in Atlantic City the day before that resulted in the death of a woman and injury to a man, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.
Atlantic City Police and emergency medical personnel responded on Saturday at 7:57 p.m. to N. Harrisburg Avenue, Atlantic City, for a 9-1-1 call.
Upon arrival, police found a man -later identified as 52-years-old Mark Richart, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania - on Harrisburg Avenue near Ventnor Avenue, Atlantic City, the victim of a stabbing. Police found a woman - later identified as Bessy Blanco, female, 54, of Atlantic City -deceased inside her home on N. Harrisburg Avenue, also stabbed.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division, where he remains, receiving treatment for his injury.
Investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Atlantic City Police Department, with the assistance of the Galloway Township Police Department, the Egg Harbor City Police Department, and the Mullica Township Police Department, resulted in the issuance of criminal charges yesterday morning and the arrest on those charges later that morning of Jose B. Lopez, 51, of Ventnor.
Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton authorized the charges against Lopez of Murder—a crime of the 1st degree, Attempted Murder—a 1st degree crime, and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes—2nd degree early morning, Sunday, February 19, 2017.
A Galloway Township Police officer on patrol located Lopez in Galloway Township later that morning operating a motor vehicle that belonged to the male stabbing victim. The officer radioed for backup units, stopped the vehicle and arrested Lopez without incident.
Lopez was transported to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, where he was processed for the arrest, then lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, by order of Atlantic City Municipal Court Judge Henry Warner.
A conviction for murder carries a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 30 years to life. A 1st degree conviction carries a potential sentence of 10-20 years in prison. The potential penalty for a 2nd degree conviction is 5-10 years in prison.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666.
Witnesses may also contact the Atlantic City Police Department Investigations Division at (609)-347-5766.