One Dead, One Jailed In Wednesday’s Wildwood Crest Shooting

Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:40 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

WILDWOOD CREST, NJ.- An apparent Wednesday night argument at a Wildwood Crest, New Jersey home resulted in a 41-year-old man being shot dead and a 63-year-old Wildwood Crest man charged with murder.

     According to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, shortly before 4:00 p.m., members of the Wildwood Crest Police Department responded to a 911 Emergency Call reporting a man being shot at East Cresse Avenue residence.

Upon Arrival Police Officers Find Victim And Suspect

     Upon arrival, Police Officers encountered the person who placed the 911 call standing outside the residence, who informed Police Officers the shooter was still inside the residence. As Police Officers entered the house, they encountered Carmine Neri, 63, of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, standing in the front living room with a handgun in the back pocket of his pants. Police Officers quickly secured the firearm, and Mr. Neri was taken into custody. 

     As Officers proceeded further into the residence, they discovered Joseph Falciani lying on his back at the top of the stairs with a gunshot wound to his chest. Life-saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful, and Mr. Falciani was pronounced deceased at the scene.

    Detectives of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Wildwood Crest Department launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. After interviewing two witnesses who were present at the time of the shooting, Detectives determined that an argument between Neri and Mr. Falciani escalated to the second story of the residence, where Neri retrieved the handgun and shot Mr. Falciani once in the chest.

     Accordingly, based on the evidence collected at the scene and the witnesses’ statements, Neri was formally charged with one count of first-degree Murder; second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

     Neri was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings in Cape May County Superior Court.