A tragic shooting in New Jersey has left a family devastated after a father was killed in front of his son by a family member. The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office reported that the shooting happened around 3:46 p.m. on Wednesday at a home on East Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest.
According to ABC affiliate WPVI, when police arrived, they found 63-year-old Carmine Neri sitting in the living room with a handgun in his back pocket. Officers discovered the victim, Joseph Falciani, at the top of a staircase with a gunshot wound to his chest.
Despite attempts to save his life, Falciani was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told police that an argument between the two men escalated to the second floor of the house before Neri shot Falciani.
Authorities have not yet released full details about what led to the shooting. However, court documents confirm that a child was inside the home when the incident occurred but was not harmed.
Neri has been charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and other related offenses. He is currently being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility.
This tragedy comes shortly after another heartbreaking shooting in New Jersey. A 9-year-old boy named Yasin Morrison was killed in Newark over the weekend. Yasin, who had autism and was non-verbal, was shot while standing on the front steps of his grandparents’ home.
Yasin, his father, and his 3-year-old sister had just arrived home when gunfire broke out. Reports indicate that Yasin’s father was also shot while trying to protect his children. Another man, who was reportedly the intended target of the attack, was also injured but is expected to recover.
The shooting has left Yasin’s family deeply shaken. His grandmother, Tisha Bolden, told CBS News, “It happened in front of our house. We’re never going to be able to look at going outside the same way.”
On Wednesday, Newark officials announced the arrest of 36-year-old Jesse J. Dunbar II in connection with Yasin’s death. Dunbar faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault.
Investigators believe Dunbar was targeting the unidentified 36-year-old man who was walking near Bolden’s home. Police say Dunbar pulled out a gun and started shooting, hitting the man as well as Yasin.
Both of these tragic incidents highlight the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities.
