On the evening of December 21, 2015, 23-year-old DeVonte Molley of Mays Landing was found bleeding from a severe abdominal injury in the lobby of the Baymont Inn & Suites (then the Madison Hotel) in Atlantic City. He had crawled from Room 859, got on an elevator and collapsed; he was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead. An autopsy determined a single gunshot wound to the abdomen; the death was ruled a homicide and the firearm was never recovered.

Investigators say the shooting occurred during a planned robbery of Molley’s heroin and money. Maurice Burgess, who had been staying in Molley’s room, allegedly arranged the setup. Burgess let Sterling Spence and Charles Wynn into the room while Molley slept. Trial testimony described a struggle after Molley woke and the gun discharged; Molley told an officer he didn’t know who shot him before he lost consciousness.

In January 2019 a jury convicted Burgess and Spence of felony murder and robbery and convicted Wynn of reckless manslaughter and attempted theft; Burgess and Spence received 50-year sentences and Wynn eight years. DeVonte’s family described profound loss and said defendants showed no remorse.