A fight at a birthday party led to a fatal shooting in Cape May County, police say

A shooting last month that left a 24-year-old dead and another man charged with murder The spark was an argument outside a home in Cape May County where a large birthday party had taken place, authorities said.

The fight started just before 11 p.m. on Oct. 25 outside a home on Longfellow Street in Woodbine, according to a criminal complaint charging Hakeem T. Denby with murder and three weapons offenses.

After the initial altercation, a large crowd headed to nearby Madison Street, where another fight broke out and four shots were fired, authorities said.

When police arrived, they found Daquann M. Smith, of Middle Township, on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, the complaint said.

Smith, who arrived on Madison Street in a vehicle with three other people, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Police later executed a search warrant at the home where the party took place, checking surveillance cameras and interviewing witnesses, authorities said.

One witness told investigators that Denby shot Smith, prosecutors said.

Denby, 34, of Vineland, fled on foot after the shooting before being arrested and charged Friday.

He was present at the party and appeared on cellphone video recorded by attendees, court documents state.

According to online jail records, Denby was still being held at the Cape May County Jail as of Wednesday morning. Attorney information was not immediately available.

Denby served less than six months in state prison on a weapons conviction before being released on parole in June 2023, according to the Department of Corrections.

Smith’s funeral is scheduled for Wednesday morning in the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township.