Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and City of Burlington Police Chief Ryan P. Elbertson announced that a 33-year-old Beverly City resident has been arrested for the fatal shooting of a man two months ago in the City of Burlington’s New Yorkshire neighborhood.
James H. McDowell Jr., of Warren Street, was charged with Murder (First Degree), Certain Persons Not to Have Firearms (Second Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree).
McDowell was taken into custody in Roanoke, Virginia on August 15 and lodged in the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center pending extradition to New Jersey. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The investigation began June 8 after officers from the City of Burlington Police Department responded to the area of Earl and Clarkson streets just after 5:30 a.m. for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival they discovered an adult male on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Derrick Adams, 38, a City resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined the victim died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the City of Burlington Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force – Trenton Division, the U.S. Marshals Service Western District of Virginia – Roanoke Office, the Roanoke Police Department, and the Willingboro Township Police Department.
The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Arek Arargil, BCPO Detective Kaitlin White, and City of Burlington PD Detective Cameron Lung.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.