Atlantic City, NJ, man gets 25 years for fatal motel stabbing

An Atlantic City man is headed to prison in connection to a fatal stabbing at a motel nearly two years ago.

On Wednesday, 38-year-old Julio Vazquez-Dones was sentenced to 25 years behind bars on a first-degree aggravated manslaughter charge.

During the early morning hours of July 8th, 2023, officers with the Atlantic City Police Department were called to the Red Carpet Inn on the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue for a report of a fight.

At the scene, authorities found 31-year-old Jewel Lonon of Rosedale, NY, suffering from stab wounds; he later died from his injuries.

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Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the motel and several people were detained.

Surveillance footage showed a Hispanic male wearing a blue shirt and blue shorts chasing the victim into the parking lot of the Red-Carpet Inn. The suspect then assaulted and stabbed the victim. Investigators spoke with Julio Felix Vazquez-Dones, who admitted stabbing the victim after a dispute.

Vazquez-Dones further admitted to discarding his clothes and weapon after stabbing the victim multiple times.

This was a cooperative investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department. Assistant Prosecutor David Little represented the State in this case.