S. Jersey man to face murder trial in fatal shooting outside Cavanaugh's River Deck

A 23-year-old South Jersey man was held for trial Wednesday on murder and weapon offenses in connection with the July 24 shooting death of a man outside Cavanaugh's River Deck at Penn's Landing.

Xavier Braswell, of Burlington City, is accused of killing Shelton Merritt, 24, of Lawnside, Camden County, who was inside a black Jeep parked on the unit block of Callowhill Street at 11:45 that night. Merritt died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Robert Renfro, 23, who had been with the defendant that night, told Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon that he saw Braswell shoot at the Jeep. At the conclusion of Wednesday's preliminary hearing, DeLeon ruled that the defendant should stand trial. - Julie Shaw