In the late hours of an October night in Atlantic City, the ShotSpotter alert system pierced the usual city sounds, signaling a grim discovery. Police were dispatched to the vicinity of Florida and Pacific avenues where they found the lifeless body of 36-year-old Bernard Murphy, a victim of multiple gunshot wounds. The shooting, which occurred on October 17, 2019, cut short the life of a man known to some by the nickname 'Sunni,' a father of three who had worked in security.
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investigation into Murphy's death quickly gained momentum. Within days, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of 31-year-old Roberto Rios. He was taken into custody and faced charges of murder and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting. Authorities alleged that Rios was the individual who had fired the shots that killed Murphy.
Further investigation revealed that Rios was not alone at the time of the incident. A 17-year-old was reportedly with him and fled the scene in a car. During the escape, the teenager was said to have discarded two firearms into the bay near Sunset and Nevada avenues, both of which were later recovered by police. The juvenile was apprehended that same night and faced charges including weapons offenses and eluding police. He was subsequently held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center, while Rios was detained at the Atlantic County Justice Facility to await a detention hearing.
