In the early morning hours of May 12, 2022, the life of 40-year-old Dominick A. Santiago Jr. was tragically cut short in Burlington City, New Jersey. A Hispanic/Latino male from Willingboro, Santiago was discovered in the driver's seat of his SUV on the 500 block of Linden Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. City police officers on patrol were drawn to the scene by the sound of gunfire just before 3 a.m.
Santiago was rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 5:30 a.m.
The investigation into Santiago's death moved swiftly. Within a day of the shooting, authorities announced the arrest of 35-year-old Bryant Williams, a resident of Burlington City. Williams was taken into custody by patrol officers who spotted him walking near East Broad and Lawrence streets. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. While a motive for the shooting has not been publicly released, Williams was lodged in the Burlington County Jail to await a detention hearing. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the City of Burlington Police Department.
In the wake of his death, family and friends gathered to remember a man they described as a loving father who was known for being a sharp dresser. His mother, Carolyn Correa-Bryant, spoke of her profound grief and made a plea to end the violence that claimed her son's life. A balloon release was held in his honor at a park in Willingboro where he had played as a child. Those who knew him recalled his aspirations of owning a business and becoming a lawyer. His family remembers him as a funny and generous person who would have given the shirt off his back to someone in need.
