South Jersey Man To Face 2nd Trial For Murder During Group Fight

The second trial for a Burlington County man charged with fatally shooting a man during a group fight two years ago will begin next month, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Anthony M. Harris, 32, of Beverly City, has been indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury on single counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree certain persons not to have weapons in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Ronald Walker, of Florence.

Harris faced trial on these same charges earlier this year, but the Hon. Charles A. Delehey declared a mistrial when the jury indicated it could not reach a unanimous verdict on a murder charge. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced the newest indictment on Wednesday. Read more here: What Happens When A Criminal Case Ends In A Mistrial?

Police say Harris shot Walkeron Sept. 21, 2016, when his group went to Zinc Street in Florence. Zinc Street is an alley that runs between Second and Third streets. Walker was taken to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, where he was pronounced dead at 8:21 p.m. that night. An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that Walker died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Harris was arrested on May 23, 2017, in an apartment on West Trenton Avenue in Falls Township, Pa., as part of an initiative targeting violent criminals with outstanding warrants, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

He was arrested by officers from the Burlington County Sheriff's Department Warrant Unit, the Florence Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Pemberton Township Police Department, the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Willingboro Police Department. Assistance was provided by the Mercer County Sheriff's Department.

Harris was processed by the Falls Township Police Department on a Fugitive From Justice warrant and taken to the Bucks County Jail in Doylestown Township, PA, where he was lodged on $500,000 bail. He was then extradited to New Jersey and was detained in the Burlington County Jail.

The attached image of Anthony Harris was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.