In the early morning hours of Father's Day, June 18, 2023, the life of 18-year-old Tamaj Bennett was tragically cut short in a burst of violence on an Atlantic City street. The young man, a resident of Atlantic City, was dropped off near a convenience store on the 1400 block of Atlantic Avenue shortly before 3:30 a.m. As he walked towards the store, he exchanged a brief acknowledgment with a group of males standing outside.
In an instant, the normalcy of the moment was shattered when one of the individuals, later identified as 17-year-old Azair Wilson, opened fire on Bennett.
Struck by the initial volley of bullets, Bennett turned and ran into the convenience store, seeking refuge from the relentless assault. Wilson, however, pursued him into the establishment, continuing to fire his weapon multiple times, inflicting approximately 13 gunshot wounds on the teenager. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Bennett was rushed to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his severe injuries and was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Azair Wilson fled the state of New Jersey in an attempt to evade capture. An investigation was launched by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, and through their efforts, Wilson was identified as the shooter. On July 3, 2023, members of the South Fulton Police Department in Georgia located and arrested Wilson at a residence in College Park. He was subsequently extradited back to New Jersey to face charges for the murder of Tamaj Bennett.
Azair Wilson, who was 19 at the time of his sentencing, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter. On December 17, 2024, a judge sentenced him to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison. Under the terms of his sentence, Wilson will be required to serve 85% of his term before becoming eligible for parole. Following his release, he will be subject to five years of parole supervision.
