In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Atlantic City, a grim discovery was made on the Route 40 overpass leading to the local high school. A passing motorist spotted a man lying on the ground at approximately 11:20 p.m. on July 6, 2025, and promptly called 911. When officers arrived at the scene near 1400 N. Albany Avenue, they found 43-year-old Vaughn Lyons, a male resident of Atlantic City, unresponsive. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was the gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the death of Lyons, who was known to many as Bill, quickly progressed. According to a witness, Lyons and another man, later identified as 52-year-old William A. Tucker, were seen exiting an SUV on the overpass. Shortly after, the witness reported hearing several gunshots. Tucker was then seen getting back into the vehicle, which was driven by 30-year-old Sabrina Hearns Evans. The pair allegedly drove back to Evans's apartment, where she reportedly packed several trash bags before they fled towards Philadelphia on the Atlantic City Expressway.
Within a few days, the investigation led to the arrests of two Atlantic City residents. On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, William A. Tucker was taken into custody and charged with murder, along with various weapons and drug offenses. Sabrina Hearns Evans was also arrested and faced charges of hindering apprehension for the crime of murder, in addition to several drug-related charges. Investigators stated that both individuals were allegedly involved in selling drugs at the time of the incident. A search of the apartment linked to the suspects uncovered handgun magazines, ammunition, suspected fentanyl and cocaine, and materials often used for drug distribution.
