Boxer faces murder charges in Atlantic City shooting

An Atlantic City man who recently entered the world of professional boxing is facing murder charges in connection with a fatal shooting this past January.

Omar Curry, 24, was arrested Tuesday on the 800 block of North Virginia Avenue, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced in a news release.

Curry made his professional boxing debut Saturday at Bally's Atlantic City on the undercard of Mike Jones' comeback attempt against Jamie Herrera.

Curry's match against Marvin Johnson, of Bridgeton, reportedly ended in a four-round majority draw.

About seven months earlier, on Jan. 17, Curry allegedly shot 32-year-old Nelson Viera multiple times near Texas and Arctic avenues.

Atlantic City police were alerted to the crime by the city's ShotSpotter gunfire detection software, the county prosecutor's office said.

Viera died from his injuries a short time later at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. The state Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide.

Prosecutors did not say whether Curry and Viera were acquainted prior to the shooting. A possible motive for the crime was not divulged.

Curry, of the 100 block of Rhode Island Avenue, is charged with homicide and firearms offenses.

He made his first court appearance Wednesday, after which he remained imprisoned at the Atlantic County Jail on $1 million cash bail.

Curry's arrest was the result of an investigation by the Major Crimes Unit of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, along with the Atlantic City Police Department, officials said.