By: Richard L. Smith
Authorities in Burlington County have charged two men in connection with last month’s deadly double shooting outside a Bordentown Township convenience store.
According to information released by Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Bordentown Township Police Department Officer-in-Charge Lt. Frank Nucera III, investigators have charged 23-year-old Justford Doe of Philadelphia and 21-year-old Giovanni Varanese of Cherry Hill with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and first-degree robbery.
Both also face second-degree weapons charges and an eluding offense.
Officials said the pair were served with warrants inside the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, where they are currently held on unrelated matters.
Prosecutors will now seek to have both suspects extradited to New Jersey as the case moves toward a Burlington County grand jury for potential indictment.
The investigation began late on November 5, when officers responded to the 7-Eleven/Valero gas station at Route 130 north and Farnsworth Avenue around 11:30 p.m.
Police were alerted after a man who had been shot in the parking lot entered the store seeking help.
The victim, 22-year-old Daniel Patterson of Philadelphia, collapsed shortly after and died at the scene.
A second victim, 21-year-old Mason Knott of Wrightstown, was rushed to a Trenton hospital where he later died.
Autopsies conducted by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined Patterson suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Knott died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators said the suspects fled the scene in a Jeep and later abandoned the vehicle after crashing in Florence Township before escaping on foot.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue to prepare the case for further legal proceedings.