BURLINGTON CITY - Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and City of Burlington Police Chief John Fine announced that three men have been charged with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old city resident early Sunday morning outside of a house in the 300 block of York Street.
Murder and weapons charges were filed against the three defendants on Monday, November 11. Two have been arrested, and one is still being sought.
According to federal officials , Zahire N. Williams, 19, of the 200 block of East Pearl Street in Burlington City, was identified as the shooter. Williams was arrested Tuesday by Burlington Township police officers after showing up in their jurisdiction for an unrelated appearance in municipal court.
He was charged with Murder (First Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree) and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree.) He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court.
Lowell M. McCown, 20, of the 1500 block of Stevens Street in Philadelphia, was apprehended Tuesday by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Highway Patrol. He faces one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder (First Degree). He is being held in a Philadelphia jail pending an extradition hearing.
The third defendant, Marcus S. Mackroy-Davis, 23, of the 100 block of Stratton Drive in Westampton, remains at large. He has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder (First Degree).
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, the City of Burlington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division's tip line at 609-386-0262, extension 211, or send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us.
The victim, Kion Edwards, was pronounced dead at Virtua Willingboro Hospital following the 10:45 a.m. shooting in the city’s Historic Yorkshire neighborhood on November 10.
The investigation revealed that Edwards was standing outside with acquaintances when a vehicle containing three occupants drove by and fired shots in the group’s direction. Edwards was the only individual struck by gunfire.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined the victim died from a bullet that passed through his arm and into his chest. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
The investigation was greatly assisted by the City of Burlington’s security cameras, which are placed in strategic areas throughout the community.
The defendants will be prosecuted by BCPO Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson. The case is being investigated by detectives from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the City of Burlington Police Department.
Assistance was provided by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Trenton Area Safe Streets Task Force, the Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Unit and the Philadelphia Police Department Airport Unit.
The lead investigators are BCPO Det. Erica Ridge and City of Burlington Police Department Det. Jamie Lambing.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.