On the evening of October 23, 2020, in Beverly City, New Jersey, the life of 32-year-old Octavius Williams was tragically cut short. Williams was outside the Delacove Homes public housing project when he was struck in the chest by gunfire. The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m., a time when there was a significant amount of activity in the area.
Beverly City police officers were dispatched to the housing complex around 10:15 p.m. following a report of the shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a bystander administering CPR to Williams. He was then rushed to Virtua Willingboro Hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts to save him, Williams was pronounced dead about an hour later.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the Beverly City Police Department launched a joint investigation into the homicide.
Authorities confirmed that Williams was a resident of Beverly City but did not live in the Delacove Homes complex where the shooting took place. As of late 2020, no arrests had been made in connection with his death, and no weapon had been recovered from the scene.
To encourage witnesses to come forward with information, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced a $5,000 reward for intelligence that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Williams' death. Investigators expressed their belief that there were witnesses to the shooting who could provide crucial assistance to their investigation and hoped the financial incentive would prompt them to share any details they might have. The investigation into the death of Octavius Williams remains ongoing.
