Atlantic City Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting Two Men In October 2024

Monday, January 19, 2026, 9:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.- Last Monday, a 31-year-old Atlantic City, New Jersey, man learned he will be spending over twelve years in New Jersey State Prison when sentenced later this year after pleading guilty to shooting two men late last year in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

     According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, on Monday, January 12, 2026, Eric Melton, 31, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree Attempted Murder; one count of second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and one count of Hindering Apprehension.

     In return for the guilty plea, the Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Melton be sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, which will require Melton to serve 85% of his custodial term before becoming eligible for parole. Upon his release from prison, Melton will be required to serve an additional three years of parole.

     Following entering his guilty plea, the court accepted Melton’s plea and scheduled sentencing for May 2026.

     The guilty plea stems from an incident that began on October 12, 2024, when, shortly after 7:00 p.m., members of the Atlantic City Police Department responded to reports of gunfire at an Atlantic City Apartment Complex, where, upon arrival, the Police Officers located two men who had sustained gunshot wounds.

     During the ensuing investigation, Detectives recovered area video surveillance footage showing Melton following the two shooting victims on foot for several blocks before pulling out a handgun and shooting at them approximately seven times in the courtyard area of the complex. 

     Four days later, on October 16, 2024, members of the Atlantic City Police Department stopped Melton in connection with the shooting investigation. During the stop, Melton provided a false name to Police Officee to avoid arrest, but was later positively identified at the scene.

     At the time of the shooting, Melton was pending sentencing on drug distribution charges to the Atlantic County Recovery Court Program. Additionally, under the terms of last Monday’s plea agreement, Melton will now be sentenced to a concurrent term of imprisonment for the drug charges.