On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at approximately 2:41 P.M., officers from the Woodbury Police Department were dispatched to the area of Franklin and Wallace Streets for the report of a male who had been shot. Upon arrival, they discovered a victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Immediate medical attention was rendered, and the victim was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The deceased male was identified as 21-year-old Brandon L. Blanton, Woodbury, New Jersey.
An autopsy of Blanton conducted on January 5, 2023, by Gloucester County Medical Examiner Dr. Gerald Feign ruled the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death as a homicide.
Subsequent to the homicide, an exhaustive and collaborative investigation was launched by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Woodbury Police Department, with invaluable support from a number of partnering law enforcement agencies. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler McKinney of Philadelphia.
On Sunday, January 8, 2023, at approximately 2:00 P.M., McKinney surrendered to members of the U.S. Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force/Camden Division and Gloucester Counter Prosecutor’s Office in Woodbury. McKinney is charged with the following offenses:
Murder: 2C:11-3A(3)
Felony Murder: 2C:11-3A(3)
Robbery: 2C:15-1A(1)
Possession of Weapon for Unlawful Purpose: 2C:39-4A(1)
Unlawful Possession of Weapon: 2C:39-5B(1)
Possession of Weapon by Prohibited Person: 2C:39-7A
McKinney was processed and then lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of their rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State Law.
This investigation remains ongoing at this time. The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office encourages any witnesses with information regarding this crime to call Detective Brandon Cohen of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at 856-384-5524 or Detective Corporal Nick Cacciola of the Woodbury Police Department at 856-845-0065 ext. 142.
Information can also be e-mailed to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.
