Lindenwold man charged with murder

A Lindenwold man who was on probation with a criminal history of drug offenses, has been charged with murder in the death of an 18-year-old shot Sunday afternoon.

Tremayne Rodriguez, 20, of the 5300 block of Bilper Avenue, appeared before Superior Court Judge Thomas Brown where he was arraigned on murder and weapons charges in the death of Kory Johnson.

Rodriguez was remanded to Camden County jail with bail set at $1 million.

Johnson, who was taking night classes in Glassboro to get his high school diploma, recently moved to Camden to live with his father, Reginald Cromer, his family said.

Johnson worked part-time with his father's cleaning service, said his oldest sister, Khanyeen Johnson, 31, who attended the arraignment with her two siblings.

"My brother was a good, intelligent, loving boy," said Johnson's sister, Aarica Johnson-Jackson, 27. "He was kindhearted."

He studied karate and dreamed of becoming an artist, his siblings said. He enjoying painting and drawing.

"All he cared about was his family and friends," said Johnson's older brother Aaron Johnson, 26, who added that his brother was generous with charities, donating clothes, and he often bought candy for children in his neighborhood.

In addition to this father and siblings, Johnson is survived by his mother, Deborah Johnson. The family said they do not know Rodriguez and have no idea why he would kill Kory Johnson.

Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Mary Alison Albright said authorities arrested Rodriguez Monday night on a bench warrant for failing to appear in municipal court last year. He was charged at that time with resisting arrest.

His arrest record dates to 2004 when Rodriguez was charged with simple assault as a juvenile. He had another four arrests on drug charges, officials said.

Additionally, Rodriguez had been charged in 2008 with possession of drugs with intent to distribute and pleaded guilty last year.

In March, prosecutors dismissed that case along with charges against 185 others charged by a group of rogue Camden officers in a narcotics scandal that still is unfolding. Two officers have pleaded guilty to conspiracy while another three, including one who is retired, remain under investigation.

Rodriguez is among two dozen of those who have been arrested again since charges were dismissed in March.

When authorities arrested Rodriguez Monday, they found a .22-caliber revolver that Rodriguez admitted was the murder weapon in the Johnson slaying, Albright said. Rodriguez also confessed he was the gunman, Albright said.

Albright did not disclose a motive in the slaying.

Johnson was shot twice at Sixth and Elm Streets about 12:30 p.m. Sunday and ran to a nearby bodega at Sixth and Vine Streets, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital about 6:30 p.m.