By: Tracie Carter
A 24-year-old man has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting at a Gloucester Township apartment complex last week, according to information released by Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins.
Matthew Lucas, of Gloucester Township, was charged on July 15 with first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Anthony Sanflippo.
The victim was found shot to death in the doorway of his apartment at the Lakeview Apartment complex on Lower Landing Road around 4:58 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.
In addition to the murder charge, Lucas faces second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
At the scene, investigators recovered a .45 caliber shell casing and learned that the suspect had fled after stealing a vehicle from a witness at the complex.
Witnesses described the suspect as wearing green pants, a black surgical mask, and a head garment with tassels.
Four days later, on July 13, the stolen vehicle was located by New York City Police on West 49th Street in Manhattan.
Lucas was arrested nearby on an unrelated offense and was found with the vehicle’s key, a .45 caliber handgun, and clothing that matched the description from the Gloucester Township shooting.
Notably, green pants with what appeared to be blood stains were found inside the vehicle.
Ballistics testing confirmed that the handgun recovered from Lucas matched the shell casing found at the murder scene.
Lucas is currently being held at Rikers Island in New York pending extradition to New Jersey.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Tanner Ogilvie at (856) 580-5819.