Guilty Plea In Fatal Shooting; Charges Remain For Cinnaminson Man

CINNAMINSON, NJ — A Pennsauken man has pleaded guilty to his role in the fatal shooting of a Burlington City man earlier this year, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Friday. Charges are still pending against a Cinnaminson man who was also indicted in the murder of 30-year-old Eric Thomas II.

Irie Y. Simmons, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter. He faces 19 years in state prison, and would have to serve 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole. Simmons admitted that he 19-year-old Xavier Myers, of Cinnaminson, approached Thomas at about 10:40 p.m. on Saturday night, Jan. 21, near the intersection of East Broad and Library streets in Burlington City, Coffina said.

After the shooting, Myers and Simmons fled the scene, but were captured by police in the area a short time later. Thomas was taken to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro, where he was pronounced dead at 11:29 p.m.

Myers and Simmons were arrested within hours of the shooting. Myers still faces one count of third-degree aggravated assault, and is considered innocent until proven guilty.

See related: Cinnaminson Man Indicted In Fatal Shooting: Prosecutor

The attached image of Irie Y. Simmons was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office