Atlantic City, NJ, Man Is Guilty Of Aggravated Manslaughter

A 19-year-old Atlantic City, New Jersey man has has pleaded guilty to three major violent criminal charges as follows:

Trumaine Clements

In a big win, The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that on March 31, 2026, Clements pleaded guilty to the following serious charges:

• first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
• third-degree terroristic threats.
• fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Clements made his guilty plea before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin.

The Plea Deal Calls for:

An aggregate sentence of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison … which will require an 85% period of parole ineligibility … as is required in the No Early Release Act.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Has Revealed The Following

On August 16, 2023, at about 10:40 p.m., Atlantic City Police Department officers and Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detectives responded to the Carver Hall Apartments in response to a Officers and paramedics attempted life-saving efforts for the juvenile victim, who suffered a stab wound to the torso. The victim was pronounced deceased in the early morning hours of the following day, said the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Another Great Collaboration Between The Atlantic City Police Department & Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit led the investigation. They used surveillance footage that showed Clements exiting his apartment at the Carver Hall Apartments.

Clements met the victim at the adjacent apartment building and then stabbed the victim in the torso.

Clements left the crime scene to go back to his nearby apartment. The Atlantic City Police arrived at the scene within minutes and apprehended Clements at his apartment.

Clements was still in possession of the knife that was used to stab the victim.

Clements Was A Minor At Time Of The Crimes

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office has shared the following information about this:

Clements, a juvenile at the time of arrest, was detained at the Atlantic County Juvenile Detention Center in Egg Harbor City, where on March 8, 2025, he purposely broke the secured door to his room by kicking it multiple times, resulting in a criminal mischief charge. On March 19, 2025 Clements received an additional charge while at Atlantic County Juvenile Detention Center for threatening to shoot a youth worker in the face, said the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Clements will be sentenced on July 10, 2026.

Atlantic County Assistant Prosecutor Brooke Melissa Hoffner represented the State in this case.