Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Willingboro Township Police Chief Ian S. Bucs announced that three people have been charged with fatally shooting a 45-year-old man outside of a Willingboro establishment last year.
Kirk Williams, 33, of Burlington City, Robert Cardona, 39, and Christopher Tokley, 45, both of Camden, have been charged with Murder (First Degree), Conspiracy to Commit Murder (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree).
The investigation began May 21, 2024, after officers from the Willingboro Township Police Department were called to the first block of John F. Kennedy Way at approximately 9:15 p.m. for a report of a shooting at the 609 Elite Social Club.
The investigation revealed that numerous people were outside when a dark-colored vehicle traveled past the establishment and returned moments later. On the second pass, a gunman fired multiple rounds toward the crowd from the vehicle, striking Major Hamilton in the chest. He was transported to Virtua Willingboro Hospital, where he died just over an hour later.
The investigation further revealed that the victim was not the intended target. It was determined that the defendants were attempting to execute a different man who was present at the club but was not in the area where the shots were fired.
Williams was taken into custody by Willingboro Township police officers on April 10. Tokley was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force in Camden the following day. Williams and Tokley were lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly. Cardona was served with the charges on April 22 inside the Camden County Correctional Facility, where he had been lodged on unrelated offenses. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Willingboro Township Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detectives Shannon Sawyer and Kaitlin White, and WTPD Detective Brandon Norris. The defendants will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Robert S. Van Gilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.