MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced today that a Beverly City resident has been convicted for fatally shooting a man on a Florence street two years ago.
The jury found Anthony M. Harris, 32, of the 100 block of Broad Street in Beverly City, guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree), and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree). A fourth charge, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons (Second Degree), was dismissed by the State upon the jury’s verdict.
The investigation revealed that on the evening of September 21, 2016, a group from Beverly City went to Florence and began fighting with local residents in the area of Zinc Street, which is an alley that runs between Second and Third streets.
The jury found that Harris pulled a handgun, began shooting, and struck Ronald Walker, 27, of Florence. Walker was transported to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that Walker died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
This trial was the second time Harris has been tried for Walker’s death. The Hon. Charles A. Delehey declared a mistrial following the first trial in June when the jury indicated it could not reach a unanimous verdict on a murder charge.
A grand jury returned a new indictment charging Harris with Aggravated Manslaughter and the weapons charges on September 25. Judge Delehey, who also presided over this second trial, will sentence Harris on December 20.
The case was tried by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Douglas J. Bligh.
The case was investigated by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Florence Township Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Major Crimes Unit Detective Nick Villano and Florence Police Detective Chris Powell.