The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the Deptford Township Police Department are investigating the murder of 32-year-old Joseph Pirri, of Blackwood.
According to authorities, Pirri’s death was the result of an assault that occurred on on Mar. 7th. at approximately 4:20 p.m. in the area of Tanyard Road near the intersection of Mail Avenue in Deptford Township.
Cooper Medical Center staff pronounced Pirri dead at 6:59 p.m. on Mar. 15th.
An autopsy by the Gloucester County Medical Examiner ruled that the cause of death was an incised (sharp instrument) wound to the face and the manner of death was homicide.
After the attack, Pirri provided a detailed description of the assailant’s vehicle and described the assailant as an adult black male, wearing a gray vest and jeans. It is believed the suspect was operating a white-over-tan Ford King Ranch pickup truck with a crew cab. The truck was equipped with a bed-mounted toolbox.
Police said the suspect vehicle left the scene where it and Pirri’s red Nissan Versa had stopped and traveled in an aggressive manner southbound on Tanyard Road to its end, turning right onto Barnsboro Road. It then turned left onto Woodbury–Glassboro Road, continuing southbound to Route 47, traveling through Glassboro. The truck then traveled into Clayton Borough.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the Deptford Police Department believe there are additional witnesses who may be able to assist with information regarding the circumstances of the attack on Tanyard Road as well as the assailant’s flight from the scene in the King Ranch pickup.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact GCPO Det. Warren Rivell at 609-685-7396 or Det. Rory Tipping of the Deptford PD at 856-462-1334.