By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Gloucester County announced that on Sunday, November 19, 2023, West Deptford Police were dispatched to the Heritage Convenience Store, located at 710 Delaware Street, for the report of an Armed Robbery/Shooting.
During the robbery, officials stated the suspect brandished a black handgun and aimed it at a Heritage employee, discharging one shot in the direction of the employee who was fleeing the store.
Officials said the suspect then ordered an additional Heritage employee to provide him with U.S. Currency from the cash registers and safe.
The employee complied, and the suspect then exited, fleeing the store on foot and entering the driver's side of a black sedan, which was parked in the Heritage parking lot, officials say.
Authorities say the suspect departed, driving westbound on Delaware Street.
Through an extensive investigation by the West Deptford Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a 2011 black Ford Taurus registered to 30-year-old Jevonte F. Pressley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to officials.
Following through with that information in hand, officials stated, detectives utilized a number of investigative methods to identify Pressley as the suspect who committed the armed robbery and fired the handgun at the Heritage employee on November 19.
As a result, on November 28, 2023, criminal complaints were authorized, charging Pressley with the following offenses, officials said:
-Criminal Attempted Murder
-Armed Robbery
-Unlawful Possession Weapon
-Possession of Weapon Unlawful Purpose
-Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm
-Terroristic Threats
-Theft by Unlawful Taking
According to officials, on November 29, 2023, Pennsylvania State Police - Troop K - Media Barracks observed the defendant's vehicle traveling on I95 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
A motor vehicle stop was conducted, and Pressley was taken into custody.
Officials stated that the evidence directly linking Pressley to the Heritage robbery and other relevant items that may assist in connecting Pressley to additional robberies were located inside the vehicle.
Pressley was lodged in Delaware County on Fugitive of Justice charges and is pending extradition proceedings to facilitate his return to New Jersey and to face the numerous charges related to the November 19th armed robbery, officials said.