By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on January 12, Eric Melton, 31, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, and one count of third-degree hindering his own apprehension.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Melton is expected to be sentenced to an aggregate term of 12.5 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act and the Graves Act, ACPO officials said. Melton will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Upon his release, Melton will be subject to three years of strict parole supervision, ACPO officials say.
According to Atlantic County officials, on October 12, 2024, at approximately 7:09 p.m., the Atlantic City Police Department responded to an apartment complex where they found two men who sustained gunshot wounds.
Through a review of surveillance video and witness interviews, police identified Melton as having committed the shooting, Atlantic County officials said.
Surveillance video from multiple locations showed that Melton followed the victims on foot for several blocks before pulling out a handgun and shooting at them approximately seven times in the courtyard area of the apartment complex, Atlantic County officials stated.
ACPO officials state that on October 16, 2024, the Atlantic City Police Department stopped Melton in relation to the shooting investigation. Melton provided a false name to avoid arrest, but he was positively identified on the scene.
At the time of the shooting, Melton was pending sentencing on drug distribution charges to the Atlantic County Recovery Court Program. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Melton is now expected to be sentenced to concurrent State prison terms for his drug distribution charges, ACPO officials say.
Melton remains incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending his sentencing, scheduled for May 2026, Atlantic County officials said.