Man accused in Camden's first homicide since police layoffs was out on bail

A 28-year-old charged with killing a bystander Thursday in Camden during a fight over drug territory was out on bail on an attempted-murder charge from May, authorities said at his arraignment Monday.

Taurean Houston of Camden now faces a murder charge in the shooting of Anjanea Williams, 20, also of Camden. She was not the intended target of gunshots in the 1700 block of Broadway, authorities said.

Houston had been out of jail on $175,000 bail since June after allegedly exchanging gunfire with Vernon Page, 28, of Camden, in another drug-territory dispute, according to court records. The May shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Broadway, not far from where Williams was shot Thursday.

Williams was waiting for a food order in front of a local deli with two others about 2 p.m. She was the only person hit. She died about eight hours later at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

Williams was Camden's first homicide of the year - and the first since the cash-strapped city, one of nation's most dangerous, laid off nearly half of its police department.

Witnesses told police that three men with their faces concealed approached in the direction of Williams, who was hit in the abdomen. A witness identified the gunman as Houston, authorities said.

"This defendant opened fire in broad daylight in a big intersection in the city of Camden, and he killed an innocent woman," Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Mary Alison Albright told Superior Court Judge Samuel D. Natal in Camden.

Houston, who is known as Tank, has several aliases, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, authorities said. He scoffed Monday when Natal set his bail at $750,000.

"You can't be serious," said Houston, who, in court, denied shooting Williams.

Houston has been convicted of resisting arrest and receiving stolen property, Albright said.

During the May 15 gunfight, Page was hit in the leg, and Houston was not injured, according to court records. The two men were charged with assault and weapons offenses.

On May 21, while serving a warrant, authorities found a Glock and a bulletproof vest at Houston's home on Baring Street in Camden, according to court records.

In June, Houston's bail was reduced to $175,000. In November, Houston was indicted on several charges, including attempted murder, according to court records.

Houston was being held Monday in the Camden County Jail. He and Williams were acquaintances, authorities said.

More than a dozen members of Williams' family attended Houston's arraignment.

Williams graduated from Camden County Technical School's Gloucester Township campus, where she studied culinary arts, her family said. She loved children and hoped one day to open a day care, her family said.