ARREST IN DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP HOMICIDE
Press Release from Gloucester County Prosecutors Office – 11/30/2018
Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles Fiore has announced that Marcel Steele age 22, of Deptford, was charged with the shooting death of 22-year-old Jodeci Robinson of Woodbury, and the attempted murder of 26-year-old Saliim Bey of Pine Hill. Mr. Bey sustained a gunshot wound in the incident but survived.
On November 28, 2018, at approximately 9:22 pm, Deptford Township Police Department officers were dispatched to 31 Andaloro Way, Deptford Township, Gloucester County, for the report of multiple gunshots. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered Mr. Robinson lying on the ground, directly in front of Steele’s residence. Robinson, who had sustained a single gunshot wound, was transported to Cooper Trauma Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Officers of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the Deptford Township Police Department took Steele into custody without incident at the scene. Steele was initially charged with drug-related offenses that night and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility. An autopsy performed by Gloucester County Medical Examiner Dr. Gerald Feigin on November 29, 2018, concluded that Mr. Robinson’s death was caused by a gunshot wound to the back and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.
On Friday, November 30th, Steele was charged by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with first-degree murder; first-degree attempted murder; second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon; third-degree possession of a weapon while committing a CDS crime; third-degree endangering an injured victim; and fourth-degree obstruction. Steele remains lodged in Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
On Friday, November 30, 2018, Steele’s mother, Shasta Steele age 41, was charged by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with third-degree endangering an injured victim and fourth-degree obstruction. Prosecutor Fiore praised the exemplary efforts of the Deptford Township Police Department under the leadership of Captain Brian Toal. “Through seamless cooperation and teamwork, the GCPO and Deptford PD moved quickly and efficiently to alleviate any public risk, identified and secured evidence, and arrested the suspect in very short order. Incidents of this type harm our neighborhoods, put our children at risk, and will generate a relentless response from every asset we can bring to bear.” Prosecutor Fiore also praised the contributions and support of the Real-Time Crime Center South, as well as multiple canine patrols, which responded to and assisted at the scene.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office believes there are additional witnesses who may provide crucial information in this investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Michael Bielski of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at 856-384-5645 or DSG John Gigante of the Deptford Township Police Department at 609-929-7679. Information can also be e-mailed to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us. Multiple Police K-9 Units from the area and the NJSP Real-Time Crime Center-South also assisted in the investigation.