Philadelphia Man Faces 18 Years in Fatal Atlantic City Stabbing

A Philadelphia man is now facing nearly two decades in prison in connection with a fatal stabbing in Atlantic City almost four years ago.

On Tuesday, 36-year-old George Harrell pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter. Under the terms of his plea deal, he is expected to be sentenced to an aggregate term of 18 years in state prison under the No Early Release Act.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, on June 5th, 2022, the Atlantic City Police Department received a 9-1-1 call about a deceased man in the area of Kentucky Avenue.

An autopsy ruled the cause of death to be a stab wound to the victim, identified as "D.H." by prosecutors.

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Stabbing on Kentucky Avenue Caught on Video

The stabbing, which was captured on video and reviewed by investigators, showed a man leaning over the victim and reaching toward him. Moments later, the victim slumps in the same spot where he was later found dead. The suspect is then seen walking away from the scene toward a parked school bus, where he pauses briefly behind it. The victim's discarded wallet was later found in that same location. The video continues to show the suspect leaving the bus and heading to Cedar Market, which he enters.

A still image from the footage was later used by a witness to identify the suspect as George Harrell.

Harrell fled to Philadelphia, but he was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service on September 1st, 2022, and remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Inmate Assault Adds to Charges

Harrell also pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault from when he participated in the beating of another inmate while detained in the homicide case.

That incident occurred on June 28th, 2024, at the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where Harrell and 11 other inmates assaulted that victim. The victim was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of head trauma, large amounts of blood coming from his nose and mouth, multiple bruises, swollen areas on his face, and bloodshot eyes.

Harrell will remain detained at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Sentencing is scheduled for sometime in May.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com