Lucas DeGeorge, a 17-year-old male, was a junior at Buena Regional High School where he was an honor student taking advanced classes. He was known for his love of soccer, cars, and sneakers, and was described as a bright and shining light who was devoted to his family. In addition to his studies, he worked at an ACME grocery store in Mays Landing and helped his father with the Veteran Home Project, flipping houses.
On the evening of Saturday, May 17, 2025, a sequence of events unfolded that would end in tragedy. Investigators believe that two of three juvenile suspects had an encounter with DeGeorge earlier in the day. One of the teens then reportedly contacted DeGeorge and arranged for him to meet the other two in Millville.
That night, at approximately 10 p.m., Millville Police were called to the 900 block of Church Street for what was initially reported as a motor vehicle accident.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered that the driver, identified as Lucas DeGeorge, had sustained a gunshot wound which caused him to crash his vehicle. He was transported to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Following an investigation, three male juveniles from Millville were arrested and charged in connection with DeGeorge's death. The charges brought against the unnamed suspects include murder, felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and several weapons offenses. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office stated that after the shooting, two of the suspects returned to the home of the third. While authorities have not released a motive, the investigation is ongoing.
