CAMDEN
– Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that a Camden man was convicted of attempted
murder today by a Camden County jury for firing
a handgun at three New Jersey State Police
detectives during a foot chase in Camden in
2007.
According
to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
John Thomas-El, 30, of Camden, was convicted
following a month-long trial before Superior
Court Judge Stephen M. Holden in Camden. Thomas-El
was found guilty of first-degree attempted
murder, second-degree aggravated assault with
a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon
for an unlawful purpose, second-degree possession
of a weapon by a convicted felon, and third-degree
resisting arrest using violence.
The
jury deliberated for approximately 14 hours
before reaching its verdict. The case was
prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General James
Ruberton of the Division of Criminal Justice.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 31.
The
jury found that Thomas-El fired a semi-automatic
handgun at three State Police detectives during
a foot chase on July 24, 2007 in Camden. Detective
Sergeant Mark Cunard, Detective William Stolinski
and Detective Joseph Loschiavo were detailed
at about 10 p.m. to a call of reported shots
fired near the intersection of 8th and Tulip
streets. The detectives were assigned, as
members of a strategic investigations unit,
to identify high crime areas involving illegal
firearms and shootings affecting the quality
of life in Camden.
As
the detectives approached the intersection
in an unmarked SUV, Thomas-El discharged several
rounds into the air from a handgun. Thomas-El
fled as the detectives got out of the SUV
and approached him, wearing State Police vests
and other police identifiers. The detectives
chased Thomas-El on foot, but he repeatedly
disobeyed their commands to stop. As Thomas-El
continued to flee, he pointed the handgun
at the detectives and fired one round at them.
Detective Sergeant Cunard fired his service
weapon three times at the suspect, striking
him once in the upper right arm. Thomas-El
fell to the sidewalk, and was placed under
arrest.
The
case was investigated by the Attorney General’s
Shooting Response Team, made up of detectives
of the Division of Criminal Justice and the
State Police Major Crime Unit, assisted by
the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
Deputy Attorney General Ruberton was assisted
at trial by Detective Brian Graybill, lead
detective for the Division of Criminal Justice,
Detective Sgt. Geoffrey D. Noble, lead detective
for the State Police, and Trial Investigator
Anne Hayes.
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