Camden gang leader sentenced to 22 years in prison

A four-star general in Camden's Bloods street gang who ordered two shootings from his jail cell was sentenced to 22 years in prison today in Burlington County Superior Court.

Tarell "Trigger" Ambrose, 26, faced murder and attempted murder charges after he directed Shawn "Shorty Roc" Cook to kill 18-year-old LaVonne Adkins, who prosecutors said had skipped out on gang meetings, and Maurice Brown, who had provided information to authorities that landed Ambrose in Camden County Jail.

The shootings took place within hours of each other on Feb. 15, 2006. Cook, 26, ambushed Adkins in front of the Willingboro teenager's family home. He wounded Brown in Camden.

In April, Ambrose and Cook - both of Camden - confessed to their roles in the hits and entered plea agreements. Cook, a three-star Bloods general who also admitted wounding Adkins' older brother, is expected to be sentenced to 30 years next Friday.