A Vineland man has been arrested and charged with the murder of Whitesboro resident Daquann Smith, 22, in Woodbine on Friday evening, Oct. 25.

Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and the State Police announced that Hakeem Denby, 34, has been charged with murder and multiple weapons offenses following a joint  investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the State Police Major Crimes Unit.

Smith was fatally shot in the 300 block of Madison Avenue in Woodbine. Upon receiving reports of gunfire around 11 p.m. Oct. 25, State Police responded to the scene and discovered Smith with fatal wounds.

Denby was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and second-degree certain person (the individual is not allowed to possess a weapon, due to a prior conviction).

He is being held at Cape May County Justice Facility and is scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday, Nov. 6. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of 30 years to life, without the possibility of parole for 30 years.  

Sutherland praised the efforts of both the State Police and his office. “We remain committed to ensuring justice for Mr. Smith and  providing his family and loved ones with some measure of closure,” he said.

The Prosecutor’s Office encourages anyone with additional  information about this case to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 609-465-1135, the State Police at 609-861-5698 or anonymously through the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpros.net/tips.