In the quiet residential neighborhood of Woodbury, New Jersey, the afternoon of January 4, 2023, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Responding to reports of a shooting at the intersection of Franklin and Wallace streets, police discovered 21-year-old Brandon L. Blanton inside a home, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders rushed him to Cooper University Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The Gloucester County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Blanton's death was a homicide caused by the gunshot wounds. Investigators from the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office and the Woodbury Police Department began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the young man's death. Their investigation revealed that the incident was not a random act of violence but was connected to a planned marijuana transaction.
Witnesses reported seeing a man in dark clothing approach Blanton's vehicle and speak with him for several minutes before hearing three gunshots. The man was then seen fleeing the area.
Within days, the investigation led to a suspect: 22-year-old Tyler McKinney of Philadelphia. An arrest warrant was issued, and on Sunday, January 8, 2023, McKinney surrendered to the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was subsequently charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and several weapons offenses. Authorities allege that McKinney shot Blanton in the chest and torso before robbing him of his phone and iPod. Following his arrest, McKinney was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
