By: Yuritza Arroyo
On Wednesday, November 16, at approximately 10:26 a.m., Washington Township Police Department officers responded to the parking lot of the Birches Apartments, Turnersville, for the report of gunshots, according to police.
Police say, upon arrival, Washington Township officers located 39-year-old Victor Marrero, Jr. in the parking lot, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
According to officials, the suspect, Zachary A. Lahneman, 26, was taken into custody nearby after a witness identified him as the shooter to police.
Officials say, investigation disclosed that Marrero resided a short distance from the scene of the shooting and that he and Lahneman were observed in a verbal/physical altercation before the shooting.
On November 17, an autopsy was conducted by the Gloucester County Medical Examiner’s Office, which confirmed the cause and manner of death to be gunshot and homicide.
Through immediate follow-up investigation, detectives from the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Washington Township Police Department promptly charged Lahneman with the following crimes:
Murder
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Lahneman was lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.