A birthday celebration at a home in Edgewater Park, New Jersey, turned into a scene of violence in the early morning hours of January 24, 2021, resulting in the death of 29-year-old James A. Gist III of Westampton. That night, what began as a festive gathering of about ten people on Dogwood Road was shattered by the sound of gunfire shortly before 1 a.m. When the chaos subsided, Gist and another 29-year-old man, Marcus Thompson of Willingboro, had been fatally shot.
Responding officers discovered a grim scene. Marcus Thompson was found inside the residence, having succumbed to his injuries. James Gist was located outside in his car, also deceased. Investigators later determined that neither Gist nor Thompson were the intended targets of the shooting that claimed their lives. The motive for the violent outburst was not immediately clear to authorities, who began a homicide investigation into the double slaying.
In the days that followed the tragic event, no arrests were made, leaving a community in shock and two families mourning their sudden and senseless loss.
For months, the case remained under active investigation by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the Edgewater Park Township Police Department. A break in the investigation came in May 2021, when authorities arrested 27-year-old Ronny Paden of Delran. He was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offenses. The following month, a second suspect, 34-year-old David Armstrong of Willingboro, turned himself in to the police. Armstrong faced the same charges of murder and conspiracy, marking a significant development in the pursuit of justice for James A. Gist III and Marcus Thompson.
