Birthday party fight led to fatal shooting in Cape May County, cops say

A shooting last month that left a 24-year-old dead and another man charged with murder was sparked by a fight 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 house 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 big crowd made their way to nearby Madison Street where another argument 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, checked surveillance cameras and interviewed witnesses, authorities said.
One witness told investigators Denby shot Smith, prosecutors said.
Denby, 34, of Vineland, fled on foot after the shooting before he was arrested and charged on Friday.
He had attended the party and appeared on cell phone video recorded by attendees, court documents state.
Denby remains held at the Cape May County jail on Wednesday morning, according to online jail records. Attorney information wasn’t 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.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].