CNBNews

On Tuesday night, January 22, 2019, at approximately 6:26 pm, the West Deptford Township Police Department was dispatched to the National Park Laundromat, 825 Columbia Boulevard, National Park for a reported stabbing.  Upon arrival, responding officers discovered 19-year-old Xavier Byrd of Deptford Township suffering from an apparent stab wound.  Gloucester County EMS and Advanced Life Support transported Byrd to Inspira Hospital for treatment.  Byrd was later transferred to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, where he succumbed to his injuries on January 23, 2019, at 9:18 am.

An autopsy conducted by Gloucester County Medical Examiner, Dr. Gerald Feigin, determined that the cause of Byrd’s death was a stab wound to the inguinal region and he ruled the manner of death a homicide.

An investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Unit, along with the West Deptford Police Department resulted in the arrest of the juvenile for Byrd’s murder. The Woodbury City Police Department also assisted in the investigation.

The juvenile is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree possession of a weapon.  The sixteen-year-old will be held in the Lakeland Juvenile Detention Center pending court proceedings.

There are no other suspects being sought at this point in the investigation; however, investigators believe there are additional witnesses who may provide crucial information in this investigation.  The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office encourages any witnesses with information regarding this homicide to contact Det. Warren Rivell of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-685-7396 or Det. Frank Mullin of the West Deptford Police Department at 856-381-1170.

Information can also be e-mailed to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at [email protected].