4 People Charged in Fatal Shooting in South Jersey

Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with a murder that took place in Camden earlier this week, one of three shootings in a three-hour span.

Raquan Handon, 18, of Camden, Aaron Swann, 19, of Pennsauken, Ashan Thomas, 19, of Pennsauken, and a 16-year-old Merchantville boy are charged with felony murder for their roles in the death of 19-year-old Terron L. Phillips of Camden.

Phillips was found suffering from a gunshot wound lying in the street on the 3500 block of Pierce Street in Camden around 1:32 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police were responding to a single ShotSpotter activation for a gunshot.

Phillips was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at about 1:45 a.m.

Police allege that the 16-year-old shot Phillips while all four suspects were attempting to rob him.

Police believe the four suspects also participated in the other two shootings, which they believe were also armed robberies.

The first incident was reported at about 11:26 p.m. Tuesday night.

A Camden County Police officer heard a gunshot in the area of the 1400 block of South 8th Street. Two people were sitting in a car when they were approached by the three people.

One person armed with a shotgun tapped on the passenger side window and shot one time into the front window of the car, but neither person in the car was wounded.

Charges are pending in this incident.

Less than an hour later, at about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, Camden County Police officers responded to a ShotSpotter in the area of the 3100 block of Berkley Street.

A man told police he was walking in the area of Garden and Freemont avenues when he was approached by a man with a shotgun. The man with the gun shot the man who was walking down the street, but no one was injured in the shooting.

Thomas was charged with armed robbery in this incident. Charges against the other three suspects are pending.

Handon, Swann and Thomas were placed under arrest and charged at the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office following interviews with detectives between Thursday and Friday. All three are being held at the Camden County Jail.

The 16-year-old was charged on Friday. He was already being held at a juvenile detention facility on unrelated charges.

The arrests were made after the public provided tips based on the release of surveillance images of one of the suspects and the vehicle involved in the homicide on social media and the local news.

“I want to thank those who did the right thing and provided information to detectives,” Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo said. “It is vital for the public and law enforcement to work together to keep our communities safe.”

Anyone with information about the homicide or the other shootings is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Christopher Sarson at 856-225-8640 or Camden County Police Detective Mark Lee at 856-757-7420.

Information may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.