Mays Landing, NJ — Louis Stokes, 27, of Barnegat, NJ, pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, and third-degree hindering apprehension. The plea was entered before the Honorable Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C.

Under the plea agreement, Stokes will be sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison. He will serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act and the Graves Act. After his release, he will undergo intensive parole supervision for three years.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight on October 14, 2022, when Atlantic City Police responded to Sewell Avenue and found a gunshot victim with a non-life-threatening leg injury. The crime scene, located near Pennsylvania and Adriatic Avenues, contained eight expended 9mm shell casings. Surveillance footage revealed a group of men in the area before they fled inside a home.

Stokes was arrested after leaving the home, and a search revealed three handguns, including a stolen 9mm handgun used in the shooting. The handgun was hidden outside a second-floor window and contained Stokes’ DNA. An eyewitness identified Stokes as the shooter.

During his guilty plea, Stokes admitted to shooting the victim and hiding the handgun to hinder his apprehension. Despite his request for release pending sentencing, the court ordered Stokes to remain incarcerated.

The Atlantic City Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

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