Two New Yorkers Charged With Atlantic City, NJ Murder

The Atlantic County, New Jersey Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that two residents of New York State have been charged with the January 20, 2024 murder of Christian Hunter, 32, from Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Melissa Tikarem was arrested on January 29, 2024, and Howard Griswold was arrested on February 9, 2024.

Both Griswold and Tikarem were charged with Murder and Robbery.

The two suspects were taken into custody in the Syracuse, New York area by detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit, who collaborated with the Syracuse Police Department and the Syracuse FBI Field Office.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office released the following:

On January 20, 2024, at approximately 7:19 p.m., the Atlantic City Police Department received a ShotSpotter alert for multiple gunshots in the area of 119 N. Virginia Avenue. Officers arrived at the scene and located Hunter unresponsive on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the AtlantiCare Medical Center, City Division, where he was pronounced deceased. A subsequent autopsy procedure performed by the New Jersey South Regional Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound and the manner of death was determined to be homicide, according to the Atlantic County prosecutors office.

Whenever there is a homicide in Atlantic County, the Atlantic County prosecutor’s office becomes the lead law enforcement agency.

Both Griswold and Tikarem are still awaiting extradition to Atlantic County.

About any criminal charges, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office always reminds the public that:

These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information about this, or, any case is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at (609) 909-7666.

Crime Stoppers is also available to those with information that would prefer to take this route.

You can call Crime Stoppers at (609) 652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/

If the information that you provide leads to the arrest and indictment of person(s) who commit criminal offenses in Atlantic County, New Jersey ... Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards.

Systems are in place that allow you to remain anonymous.

SOURCE: Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.