Man jailed in Old City brawl an alleged gun trafficker

A man accused of firing a gun during a street brawl early Sunday in Old City is now charged with resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and gun offenses.

Police on patrol at 2nd and Chestnut heard gunfire about 2:20 a.m. and sprinted up the block to where a massive street brawl was under way. As the officers tried to break up the fight, one man pointed out Christopher McRae, 28, of Camden, and told the officers: "He shot at me!" When an officer grabbed McRae, a black handgun tumbled out of his waistband and police used a Taser to subdue him, police said. But the shock appeared to have no effect on him, and he fled on foot. Officers caught up to him a short distance away and arrested him. He's being held on $300,000 bail and faces a Jan. 29 preliminary hearing. Video posted on YouTube of the brawl, in which some participants attack a car and try to knock out its windows, has nearly 3,000 views.

UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Christopher McRae is an alleged gun trafficker who faces trial in New Jersey for illegally selling a military-style rifle and other firearms in Camden last May. The New Jersey State Police Weapons Trafficking South Unit arrested him May 23 after he sold an AK-47 assault rifle, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Hi Point .40-caliber pistol and a Ruger .357-caliber revolver. He posted bail in that case, which will be presented to a state grand jury for indictment, said Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Aseltine and New Jersey State Police declined to release further details on that case.