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CAMDEN
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Camden man was found guilty
of murder today in the slaying of Tierra
Pressley, who was shot in 2007 when the
defendant opened fire on a man in a botched
hit.
According
to Director Taylor, Manfred J. Younger,
24, was found guilty by a Camden County
jury following a seven-week trial before
Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue. Co-defendant,
Anthony D. Parker, 27, also of Camden, was
acquitted of all the charges. The case was
prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kristen
M. Harberg of the Division of Criminal Justice
Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. It was
investigated by the Camden County Prosecutor’s
Office and the Camden Police Department.
The jury deliberated approximately nine
hours before reaching a verdict.
The
jury found Younger guilty of first-degree
murder for gunning down Pressley, 24, of
Woodlynne, on June 17, 2007 in Camden. The
jury also found Younger guilty of first-degree
attempted murder in the shooting of Adrien
Jackson, who was the primary target but
who survived his wounds. Younger was also
found guilty of first-degree conspiracy
to commit murder; second- and third-degree
counts of aggravated assault related to
Jackson; second-degree possession of a weapon
for an unlawful purpose; third-degree unlawful
possession of a handgun; and two counts
of third-degree endangering an injured victim.
On
the murder charge, Younger faces a sentence
of life in state prison, including 30 years
without possibility of parole. He faces
additional time on the other charges. Judge
Blue scheduled the defendant to be sentenced
on June 15.
“This
verdict brings a measure of justice for
Tierra Pressley, a young woman who was senselessly
gunned down by this defendant as he attempted
to kill a man who had disrespected his criminal
associates,” said Attorney General
Dow. “I want to thank the jury for
its careful attention to the evidence and
testimony, which was heartbreaking at times.”
“Our
attorney and all of the investigators from
the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
and Camden Police Department worked steadfastly
to build this case and prove it to the jury
beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Director
Taylor. “They deserve great credit
for this conviction.”
Pressley
was shot about 2:30 a.m. as she spoke with
Jackson, then 32 years old, in a parking
lot at Seventh and Sycamore streets in Camden.
Pressley had just left a bar called the
Seventh and Kaighns Lounge with a female
cousin. According to the evidence and testimony
at trial, Younger walked into the parking
lot with semi-automatic handgun and opened
fire, discharging multiple rounds. Pressley
was shot multiple times in the back, torso,
arm and leg. Jackson was shot in the chest,
abdomen and arm.
Pressley’s
cousin rushed her to the hospital in a car,
but Pressley was pronounced dead within
minutes of arrival. Jackson, who was critically
wounded, was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
He survived and was discharged from the
hospital about a month later.
The
state presented testimony, based on statements
Younger made to witnesses, that Younger
was ordered to kill Jackson because he had
disrespected some of his associates. One
witness testified that Younger said he carried
out the shooting of Jackson as a “Bloods
initiation hit.” According to the
testimony, Pressley was shot because she
was in the way.
Attorney
General Dow credited Deputy Attorney General
Harberg, as well as Division of Criminal
Justice Analyst Terri Drumm, who provided
trial assistance; the lead investigators,
Senior Investigator Diane Wilson of the
Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
and Detective Wayne Matthews (now retired)
of the Camden Police Department; and all
of the investigators who worked on the case,
including Investigator John Ellis, Investigator
Robert Norcross, Investigator James Pisano
and Senior Investigator Patricia Taulane
of the Camden County Prosecutor’s
Office, and Detectives Benjamin Walls and
Eric White of the Camden Police Department.
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