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CAMDEN
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Camden man was sentenced
to life in state prison today for murdering
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 sentenced to 78 years in state prison,
including 66 years of parole ineligibility,
by Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue in
Camden. He was sentenced to 60 years in
prison, including 51 years of parole ineligibility,
for the murder of Pressley. He received
a consecutive sentence of 18 years in prison,
including 15 years of parole ineligibility,
for the attempted murder of Adrien Jackson,
who was the target of the ambush but survived
his wounds. Younger refused to be in court
for the sentencing, waiving his right to
appear.
Younger
was found guilty by a Camden County jury
on May 20, following a seven-week trial.
Deputy Attorney General Kristen M. Harberg
tried the case for the Division of Criminal
Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau
and represented the state at the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Camden
County Prosecutor’s Office and the
Camden Police Department.
“Tierra
Pressley was senselessly murdered because
she was in the way when Younger tried to
carry out a hit on a man who had angered
his criminal associates,” said Attorney
General Dow. “There are far too many
tragic incidents like this in our communities,
where thugs like Younger reach for a gun
to settle a trivial score. Let the message
go out that we will send them to prison
for a long, long time.”
“With
this sentence, a dangerous gunman has been
permanently removed from the streets of
Camden,” said Director Taylor. “Younger
will be 90 years old before he can even
be considered for parole. Sadly, the victim’s
life cannot be reclaimed, but the dedicated
professionals who handled this case for
the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office,
the Camden Police Department and the Division
of Criminal Justice have ensured that nobody
else will die at Younger’s hands.”
Younger
shot Pressley, 24, of Woodlynne, on June
17, 2007 in Camden. 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 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.
Younger
was also found guilty at trial 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. He received concurrent sentences
on those charges.
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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