In the early morning hours of March 1, 2015, a violent encounter at the Red Roof Inn in Absecon, New Jersey, left two men dead, including 22-year-old Diante Owen of Pleasantville. Responding to a 9-1-1 call just before 5 a.m., Absecon police discovered Owen and another man, Gerald Alvarez, 22, of Mays Landing, inside a hotel room, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. An autopsy later confirmed that Owen's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the chest.
The investigation that followed uncovered a complex and dangerous situation. Authorities alleged that Owen, along with four other men, were involved in a robbery attempt at the motel. The targets of this robbery were reportedly engaged in drug dealing and were also armed, leading to an exchange of gunfire. In the aftermath, two other men, Donnell Nicholas and Zackery Geckeler, arrived at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with gunshot injuries.
The vehicle Owen had driven to the motel, which belonged to his mother, was later found idling outside her home with bloodstains inside, having been used to transport at least one of the injured men to the hospital.
Following an extensive 18-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and local police departments, authorities brought charges against several individuals. Four men, Donnell Nicholas, Brian Bennett, Aaquile Reeves, and Tywan Dixon, were charged with felony murder, robbery, and conspiracy in relation to the death of Gerald Alvarez. Because Diante Owen was allegedly a participant in the underlying felony of robbery, the felony murder charges were specific to Alvarez's death. Three other individuals were also charged with gun and drug possession offenses in connection with the incident.
