On the evening of October 8, 2020, a domestic dispute in Salem City, New Jersey, escalated into a fatal encounter that claimed the life of 28-year-old Derek L. Akins Jr. and another man, 33-year-old John Robinson of Penns Grove. The tragic events unfolded at a residence where tensions had been simmering. Police had been called to the home twice that same day with requests to remove Desmond D. Lane, a 30-year-old resident of the home, from the property.
Later that night, a heated argument erupted, which led to a physical altercation involving Akins, Robinson, and Lane. During the struggle, a handgun that Akins had been carrying was taken by Lane, who then opened fire. Akins and Robinson were both fatally shot during the confrontation. A third individual, Akins's sister, was also wounded in the shooting.
Following the incident, Desmond D. Lane was identified as the shooter and subsequently arrested.
He was charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Derek Akins and John Robinson. After a trial in February 2023, a jury convicted Lane on both murder charges, as well as aggravated assault and a weapons offense.
In April 2023, a judge sentenced Desmond D. Lane to a lengthy prison term for his role in the fatal shootings. He received a sentence of 30 years for each murder, to be served consecutively, in addition to a sentence for the aggravated assault charge, resulting in an aggregate of over 60 years in prison. The court also ordered Lane to pay restitution. During the trial, Lane's defense argued that he was not the shooter and suggested another individual present at the scene may have been responsible. However, the jury ultimately found him guilty of the crimes.
