ANOTHER SHOOTING IN GCITY; WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Saturday, May 17, 2025
UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION
CNBNews graphic files
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNEWS)(MAY 17, 2025)—There was another shooting in Gloucester City, according to the Gloucester City Police Department. This incident occurred in the 200 block of Essex Street on Saturday, May 17, around 3:27 AM.
The police said they responded to the 200 block of Essex Street to a report of a gunshot. Upon arrival, officers confirmed that a gun was fired on the street at that location. Police said there was no indication that a bullet struck anyone.
Four years prior, on July 10, 2021, an incident involving gunfire occurred in the 300 block of Essex. Nineteen rounds were discharged towards the victim, seven of those rounds struck the victim.
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The Gloucester City Police Department Detective Bureau is conducting a criminal investigation into the latest shooting. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective John Bryszewski at 856-456-7797.
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In January, there was a shooting in the 600 unit block of Ridgeway Street. The police department did not release the announcement about the crime until 23 days after it occurred. The public learned about the event from a Ridgeway Street resident who captured the incident on their Ring camera and gave a copy to Jason Fanning, the chairman of the Gloucester City Republican Committee.
A CNBNews investigation into this alarming incident uncovered that Fanning initially shared this video on social media, but he removed it after being requested by the police department. However, after further thought, he republished it. Fanning revealed that he had complied with requests from Police Chief/Acting City Administrator Brian Morrell and Police Captain Jason Flood to take down the footage, as their investigation was ongoing.
Generally, law enforcement agencies prioritize releasing information about criminal activity, aiming to engage the public in their efforts to uncover vital details that could aid in their inquiries. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office also investigates random shootings as standard protocol. However, the decision to withhold information about this incident leaves many questions unanswered, shrouding the community in uncertainty.
To obtain copies of the local investigation into the shooting, we submitted an OPRA request to Gloucester City Municipal Clerk Vanessa Little, who also serves as the City's Custodian of Records. We also contacted the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, requesting copies of their research into this shooting.
Our OPRA request was never answered. Additionally, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office never responded to our request for comment.
When we didn’t receive a response from Little or the Camden County Prosecutors' Office, we contacted the Government Records Council (GRC) office in Trenton. And we were told we would have to file a complaint with their office against the City of Gloucester and the Prosecutors' Office in order for their office to get involved.
At the February Gloucester City Council meeting, Police Chief and Acting City Administrator Brian Morrell read a lengthy prepared statement criticizing Sandy Reed, a longtime resident currently running for a council seat at large on the Republican ticket. He also made a cheap jab at Reed for misspelling words, and he criticized Republican Chairman Jason Fanning for republishing the video on social media. He also released long-awaited information about the shooting in early January. The same information we requested in our OPRA request.
Earlier in February, Reed and Fanning both criticized Morrell. At this council meeting, Morrell warned Reed to be careful about what she says about him, as he is not an elected official, and she could be sued.
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On Monday, August 27, 2024, at approximately 10:50 p.m., officers from the Gloucester City Police Department were dispatched to the 600 block of Hunter Street in Gloucester City, for a report of a shooting that occurred. Through the investigation, detectives determined that Francisco Griffin, 51 Griffin fired a handgun while arguing with another individual. The round discharged by Griffin then traveled into a nearby residence and struck an innocent bystander. The innocent bystander was a 67-year-old female, was transported to Cooper University Hospital and she is in stable condition.
He was charged with second-degree Possession of Weapon, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a weapon, second-degree Aggravated Assault, and fourth-degree Criminal Mischief.
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