Lucas DeGeorge was deeply loved by his parents, who united in grief after his tragic death.
The community of Cumberland County mourns the tragic loss of 17-year-old Lucas Paul DeGeorge, who died on May 17, 2025, after being shot and subsequently crashing his vehicle in Millville, New Jersey.
Police responded to the 900 block of Church Street that Saturday night following reports of a car crash, only to discover that the young driver had sustained gunshot wounds.
Emergency services transported Lucas to Inspira Medical Center Vineland, where medical professionals pronounced him dead around 10 p.m.
Lucas, a junior at Buena Regional High School in Atlantic County, was an honor student enrolled in advanced classes who showed great promise and dedication.
His grandmother, Elizabeth Lawler, confirmed his identity to NJ Advance Media, stating that the family was grieving his death and had no further comments at the time.
Investigators have not yet released information about whether Lucas was shot while driving or beforehand.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about the shooting to contact Millville Police Detective Robert Vit at 856-825-7010 or the prosecutor’s office Detective William Parker at 856-453-0486.
Parents of Lucas DeGeorge Launch GoFundMe And Call For Justice In Wake Of Tragedy
Lucas DeGeorge comes from a blended family with parents who loved him deeply.
His biological parents are Dominic DeGeorge and Tiffany Lea, both of whom have remarried.
Lucas’s father, Dominic, is now married to Dana, while his mother, Tiffany, is married to Justin McGuigan.
Dominic DeGeorge is involved with the Veteran Home Project, flipping houses as part of this initiative.
Lucas often helped his father with these renovation projects, showing his willingness to learn and support family endeavors.
This father-son bond strengthened through their shared work experiences, with Lucas gaining valuable skills while spending quality time with his father.
Tiffany Lea, Lucas’s mother, works as an Office Coordinator at ACME Markets.
She studied Literature and English at Atlantic Cape Community College and Mercy University and is a graduate of Cape May County Technical High School.
Following her son’s death, Tiffany has been vocal about seeking justice, using social media to express both her grief and determination to find those responsible for her son’s murder.
In her heartbreaking social media posts, Tiffany wrote,
“Last night was the worst night of my life. A call that no mother should ever get, a call I wouldn’t wish on my biggest enemy. Some coward murdered my baby, my first true love, my everything.”
Facebook
She has also been advocating against gun violence with hashtags like #JusticeForLucas and #EndGunViolence.
Both sets of parents—Dominic and Dana DeGeorge alongside Tiffany and Justin McGuigan—united in their grief to create a GoFundMe campaign for funeral and memorial expenses.
In their joint statement, they described Lucas as “a bright and shining light” who “loved his family immensely” and was “an amazing son, brother, nephew, grandson and friend.”
They expressed the “unimaginable pain and voids” left by his sudden passing.
Lucas was a treasured son and brother in his blended family. He shared bonds with siblings Dominic DeGeorge, Michael Lea, GianCarlo DeGeorge, Vivien Lea, and Skylar McGuigan.
The family also remembers two brothers who preceded Lucas in death: Xavier Neill and Declan Lea.
The parents invited friends and community members to Lucas’s viewing on Friday, May 23rd, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Farnelli Funeral Home in Williamstown, with a funeral service following at noon.
Honoring Lucas’s passion for sneakers and casual style, they requested attendees wear casual attire and their “best kicks” to the service.
Through their profound grief, Lucas’s parents remain committed to celebrating the life of their son—a young man who enjoyed soccer, video games, hanging out with friends around a backyard fire, and cherished time with his siblings.
His dream of one day owning a Nissan 350Z will remain unfulfilled, but the love his parents and extended family shared with him continues to resonate in their memories and their quest for justice.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Lucas worked at ACME in Mays Landing, showing his responsibility and work ethic at a young age.
- He was described as a “true sneakerhead” with a particular eye for shoes, which was significant enough that his parents requested funeral attendees wear their “best kicks” in his honor.
- Lucas was a resident of both Mickleton and Buena, NJ, splitting his time between two locations, likely related to his parents’ separate households.
