On a winter afternoon in Edgewater Park, New Jersey, a dispute inside an apartment at the Edgewater Manor complex turned fatal for 26-year-old David Dibraccio. It was Friday, January 12, 2018, when an altercation broke out between Dibraccio and two acquaintances, Shane Davis and Jada Coley, within the residence of Dibraccio's girlfriend. The argument escalated tragically, leading to a violent confrontation.
During the fight, Jada Coley, then 19, allegedly struck Dibraccio with a shovel. Subsequently, Shane Davis, who was 19 at the time, is said to have shot Dibraccio. Despite being wounded, Dibraccio managed to leave the apartment, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the back.
Law enforcement responded to the scene and quickly identified Davis and Coley as the primary suspects.
The pair, who lived together in the same apartment complex, were arrested without incident in their own unit shortly after the shooting. Their proximity to the crime scene led to a swift apprehension by the Edgewater Park Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
Following their arrests, Shane Davis was charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Jada Coley faced charges of aggravated assault and weapons-related offenses. In October of that year, a grand jury indicted both Davis and Coley on a charge of first-degree murder, in addition to their other respective charges, ensuring they would face trial for their alleged roles in the death of David Dibraccio.
