Pennsauken residents Aaron Swann and Ashan Thomas, both 19, 18-year-old Raquan Handon of Camden, and an unnamed 16-year-old from Merchantville were charged in the death of 19-year-old Terron L. Phillips of Camden.
By Matt Skoufalos
Four teens were charged with felony murder Friday in connection with the shooting death of a Camden teenager in what police are calling a botched robbery attempt.
Police said 19-year-old Pennsauken residents Aaron Swann and Ashan Thomas, 18-year-old Raquan Handon of Camden, and an unnamed 16-year-old from Merchantville allegedly attempted to rob 19-year-old Terron L. Phillips of Camden at gunpoint Wednesday evening when things went south.
Camden County Police responded to a ShotSpotter notification for the 3500 block of Pierce Street in Camden on Wednesday evening around 1:30 a.m., and found Phillips on the block. They transported him to Cooper University Hospital, where he perished from his injuries shortly thereafter.
The unnamed juvenile suspect is alleged to have shot Philips, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO), which also noted that the suspects may be responsible for two other robbery-attempt-shootings that took place in the city Tuesday evening.
Around 11:26 p.m. Tuesday, a Camden County Police officer reportedly heard a gunshot near the 1400 block of South 8th Street. According to the CCPO, two victims were seated in a car when three people attempted to rob them. One, armed with a shotgun, fired once into the front window of the vehicle; neither occupant of the vehicle was harmed in the incident.
Then, at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to another ShotSpotter incident near the 3100 block of Berkley Street. According to the CCPO, a man walking near Garden and Freemont Avenues was allegedly approached by a man who attempted to rob him at gunpoint. During the attempt, the alleged robber fired a shotgun at the victim, who was not hit. Thomas was charged with armed robbery in this incident, and authorities said charges against his co-defendants are pending.
Handon, Swann, and Thomas are being held at the Camden County Jail; the unnamed juvenile suspect was already being held on unrelated charges in a juvenile detention facility.
Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo thanked the public for providing information that led to the arrest of the suspects involved.
“It is vital for the public and law enforcement to work together to keep our communities safe,” Colalillo said in a statement.
Anyone with information about any of the incidents should contact CCPO Det. Christopher Sarson (856-225-8640), Camden County Police Det. Mark Lee (856-757-7420) or e-mail ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
All persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.
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