Two Cumberland County men have been convicted in connection to a shooting that occurred on September 3, 2016, in Atlantic City that resulted in the death of one man, and the shooting of an Atlantic City Police Officer, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
According to authorities, Martel D. Chisolm, 31, of Millville and Demetris Cross, 30, of Bridgeton were convicted after a jury found them guilty Friday afternoon of the following charges:
Fourth degree Aggravated Assault by Pointing a Firearm at Another
Fourth degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault by Knowingly Pointing a Firearm at Another
First degree Attempted Murder of Atlantic City Police Officer Thomas McCabe
First degree Attempted Murder of Atlantic City Police Officer Josh Vadell
Three counts of First-degree Robbery
Second degree Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
Fourth degree Obstructing the Administration of Law
Fourth degree Resisting Arrest by Flight
**The two men were found not guilty of the following charges:**
Unlawful Possession of a Handgun
Conspiracy to Unlawfully Possess a Handgun
Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose
Conspiracy to Possess a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose
“Today, a jury found Martell Chisolm and Demetrious Cross guilty for the attempted murder and conspiracy to attempt murder, among ten other counts, of Atlantic City Police Officer Josh Vadell. This verdict is a resounding voice by our citizenry that they will not tolerate crimes against the very people who are sworn to protect all of us. Those who engage in criminal activity must understand that their chosen life of crime has real consequences, whether they are the injuries that Officer Vadell will live with for the rest of his life, or whether they are the many years that both of these defendants will spend incarcerated. This is not a movie, it is not a song, and it is not fiction. I thank all of the law enforcement agencies that helped apprehend these individuals. I am pleased that Officer Vadell and his family were able to witness justice dispensed in this matter,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said.
The potential penalty for a conviction of a 1st-degree crime is 10-20 years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison. The potential penalty for a conviction of a 2nd-degree crime is 5-10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2018.
An investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and assisting agencies revealed that on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 2:34 a.m., two uniformed Atlantic City police officers on patrol observed an alleged robbery in progress being committed near the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage on Arkansas Avenue.
Officials say the officers observed a group of 6 males. As one Atlantic City police officer exited the vehicle, he was shot and injured. The second police officer returned fire, hitting one suspect, who fled the scene. All other persons involved in the robbery also fled the scene in different directions. The suspect, identified as Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden, who had been shot was located approximately 1½ blocks away, on Missouri and Pacific Avenues collapsed and deceased.
The investigation revealed that 3 of the men had been victims of an alleged armed robbery committed by the other three men: Damon, Chisolm, and Cross.
New Jersey State Police arrested Chisholm, and Cross Millville and the men remain in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.