3 Juveniles Charged With Murder Of Boy In South Jersey

MILLVILLE, NJ — Three juveniles were charged with murder after the death of a fellow youth who was shot while driving last weekend in Millville.

The suspects — all Millville residents — were charged on Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities withheld the names and ages of the suspects and the victim, who are all minors.

Their detention is pending, officials said at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

The investigation started Saturday, when a car crash on the 900 block of Church Street was reported to Millville police. Officers found that a boy got shot while driving and crashed his vehicle.

The victim was brought to Inspira Medical Center Vineland, where he was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators found that all three suspects had been in contact with the victim before the shooting. One of the suspects directed the victim to meet up with the other two suspects in Millville, authorities said.

After two of the suspects shot him at the scene, they returned to their accomplice's home, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

The juveniles were charged with murder, aggravated manslaughter, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery — all first-degree. They were also charged with second- and third-degree weapons offenses.

Family members have identified the victim as Lucas DeGeorge, 17. He was a junior and an honors student at Buena Regional High School in Atlantic County, according to a GoFundMe raising money for funeral expenses.

"He was an amazing son, brother, nephew, grandson and friend," the GoFundMe says. "His parents and siblings are left with unimaginable pain and voids. He had his whole life ahead of him, and losing him so suddenly has left us devastated."

Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact Det. Robert Vit of the Millville Police Department at 856-825-7010 or Det. William Parker, III, of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office at 846-453-0486. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.