Murder charges for South Jersey teen; victim robbed of cigarettes
A South Jersey teenager who allegedly fatally shot a man during a random crime spree that terrorized Camden was arraigned Monday on felony murder charges.
A South Jersey teenager who allegedly fatally shot a man during a random crime spree that terrorized Camden was arraigned Monday on felony murder charges.
Christian Ortiz, 16, of Merchantville, showed fleeting emotion during a brief hearing before Superior Court Judge Steven J. Polansky.
Ortiz, wearing a burgundy prison jumpsuit and white high-top sneakers, was led into the courtroom with his hands cuffed in front of him.
He raised his eyebrows in apparent surprise when Assistant Camden County Prosecutor Peter Gallagher read the accusations from a 15-count indictment that included attempted murder, armed robbery, hindering apprehension, and weapons charges.
Authorities allege that Ortiz and three older teens took turns robbing four randomly chosen people in Camden and shot at each of them May 17, killing one.
Terron L. Phillips, 19, was killed while walking home from an East Camden gas station, where he had just bought a pack of cigarettes. He told his assailants he had nothing, authorities said.
Phillips told his attackers, "I got some cigarettes if you want them," according to Gallagher.
Ortiz shot Phillips in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun, authorities said. Another codefendant, Raquan Handon of Camden, rifled Phillips' pockets, stealing his cigarettes, police said.
Phillips was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
"This defendant fired the shot," Gallagher told the judge Monday, referring to Ortiz.
Ortiz was waived to adult court and charged with murder along with Handon and Aaron Swann and Ashan Thomas, both of Pennsauken.
Authorities said the four men found their victims while driving around in a red SUV that belonged to Swann's mother.
Authorities say that over two hours, they fired at four people with the same shotgun. The other three victims - all targeted before Phillips was - were not hit by the shotgun blasts.
The string of crimes began in the 1400 block of South Eighth Street, where a woman and a man sat in a parked car, authorities said. That incident was captured on video, Gallagher said.
Swann tapped on the car window with the barrel of the shotgun, prosecutors said. The woman tried to drive away. Swann then shot through the windshield, authorities said. The shattered glass injured the woman and man, and the assailants drove off.
The next robbery occurred near Garden and Fremont Avenues, where prosecutors said Thomas got out of the SUV and approached a man walking outside.
"What you got? Give me what you got," Thomas said, holding the shotgun, according to authorities.
Another voice from inside the car said, "Do it. Get him," and Thomas pumped the shotgun and fired at the man, prosecutors say. The man ran away uninjured.
Authorities have not offered a motive for the shooting spree.
Camden has had 37 homicides this year, compared with 28 during the same period in 2015.
Investigators identified the suspects after receiving several tips that one of the teenagers captured in surveillance video in the area was Handon.
Defense attorney Jordan Zeitz said he may seek a separate trial for Ortiz because two codefendants made statements incriminating themselves that could affect his client.
Ortiz has been offered a plea agreement that calls for 45 years in prison without early release, Gallagher said.
Swann, 18, and Thomas, 19, the alleged triggermen in the other two shootings, have been offered deals that would impose a 40-year sentence for each, the prosecutor said. Handon, 18, has been offered a 35-year plea agreement.
Thomas and Handon are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 28 and Ortiz and Swann on Dec. 29.
A trial date has not been set. They are being held on $2 million bail each.
856-779-3814 @mlburney