Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fatal Shooting in Camden County

By Richard L. Smith

Camden County, New Jersey

Published on [Date]

Richard L. Smith

After a thorough investigation and a trial in Camden County Superior Court, Maurice Peaker, Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Philadelphia, has been handed a life sentence with no possibility of parole for the 2021 fatal shooting of 67-year-old Thomas Smith in Camden County.

The announcement was made by Camden County Prosecutor, Grace C. MacAulay, who expressed relief that justice has been served in this tragic case.

The incident occurred in the early hours of August 15, 2021, when the Camden County Police Department received a ShotSpotter notification reporting the sound of six gunshots in the 1100 block of Kaighn Avenue in Camden.

Upon arrival at the scene, responding officers found Thomas Smith on the sidewalk near Kaighn Avenue and Rose Street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Despite being rushed to Cooper University Hospital, Smith sadly succumbed to his injuries at around 4:10 a.m.

Detectives meticulously pieced together the events leading to the shooting by examining surveillance footage from the area.

Through the footage, they were able to determine that Smith was shot while crossing Kaighn Avenue on his bicycle by an individual in a passing vehicle. The vehicle was identified as a 2000 Nissan Maxima with noticeable damage to the passenger side taillight.

Utilizing automated license plate readers, detectives tracked the movements of the vehicle before and after the shooting, leading them to an apartment building on the 200 block of Oakland Avenue in Audubon, New Jersey.

Further investigation revealed that the person behind the wheel of the Nissan Maxima on the morning of the shooting was Maurice Peaker, who was residing with his girlfriend in the Audubon apartment building at the time.

During the search of the vehicle, detectives discovered a shell casing that matched those found at the crime scene. Ballistic testing confirmed that all six shell casings were discharged from the same firearm, linking Peaker to the fatal shooting.

Surveillance footage also depicted Peaker entering and exiting the apartment building multiple times on the morning of the shooting. Notably, he was seen leaving the building wearing a hat and a mask shortly before 3:00 a.m., only to return less than ten minutes after the shooting, still donning the hat and mask and carrying a tote bag that later tested positive for gunshot residue.

Following a jury trial in Camden County Superior Court, Peaker was found guilty on August 15, 2023. The charges against him included first-degree Murder, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

Peaker managed to elude law enforcement for some time before ultimately being apprehended on August 26, 2021, in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division and the U.S. Marshals Eastern PA Violent Crimes Task Force – Philadelphia Division played key roles in his capture.

The sentencing of Maurice Peaker, Jr. brings closure to a tragic case that shook the community of Camden County. The victim’s family can now find solace in knowing that the perpetrator will face the consequences of his actions.