Authorities in Burlington County announced that a 20-year-old Philadelphia resident has been charged with shooting a Willingboro man last month in the parking lot of a township shopping center.
Officials said Mr. Lamar Johnson, of the 1000 block of Granite Street, was charged with Attempted Murder (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree) and Aggravated Assault (Third Degree).
Police arrested Johnson on November 15 in Sharon Hill, PA, by the Burlington County Sheriff's Department Fugitive Unit. He later waived extradition and was brought to the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly, where he remains.
He is scheduled for a detention hearing tomorrow in Superior Court.
The Prosecutor's Office will prepare the case for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
Officials said the investigation began after officers from the Willingboro Township Police Department were called to the Willingboro Town Center in the 4000 block of Route 130 north at approximately 5:30 p.m. on October 11.
Upon arrival, they discovered Mr. Nasir Phillips, 19, of Willingboro, sitting in a vehicle with gunshot wounds to his hand and abdomen.
He was taken to Virtua Willingboro Hospital and then flown to the trauma center at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.
The investigation revealed that Johnson traveled to the Willingboro Town Center after becoming aware that Phillips was there. Johnson pursued Phillips as he exited a sandwich shop, opening fire with a handgun and striking him twice after entering his vehicle.
According to officials, Johnson is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Angermeier, supervisor of the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force (GGNTF).
The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Willingboro Township Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office.
The lead investigators are WTPD Detective Brandon Smith and BCPO Detective Kevin Sobotka.
All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.