BEVERLY, NJ – In a significant legal development, 29-year-old Larry Brown has been convicted of the murder of a man within a Beverly City residence, alongside a series of other serious charges stemming from his actions following the crime. The conviction came after a jury deliberation that spanned three days, concluding on Friday.
Brown was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Cecilio Luciano. He also faces convictions for multiple counts of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and charges related to endangering the welfare of children, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons not to have weapons, making terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a weapon. His sentencing is set for May 10 in Mount Holly.
The incident, which took place on June 14, 2022, initiated a swift response from the Beverly City Police Department after reports emerged of Brown’s violent actions on Bentley Avenue. The situation escalated into a standoff with law enforcement when Brown barricaded himself in the residence with a woman and four children.
After several hours and the intervention of crisis negotiators from the New Jersey State Police, the woman and children were safely released, and Brown was arrested. The victim, Luciano, was found deceased in the home, having been bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat, as determined by an autopsy.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office led the investigation, with assistance from several local and state law enforcement agencies, highlighting the collaborative effort to bring justice in this tragic case.