Second Man Charged In Shooting Death Of NJ Corner Store Owner: Police

CAMDEN, NJ – A second man has been charged in connection with a fatal July shooting at the Fortuna Mini-Market in Camden, authorities said.

Nigel Serrano, 44, of Camden, was taken into police custody on Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Regional Task Force and charged with felony murder and weapons offenses in the fatal shooting of Luis Morales on July 19, 2022, announced Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez.

Yaphet Norman, 31, of Camden was previously charged with felony murder in connection to the shooting.

Serrano and Norman remain lodged at the Camden County Correctional Facility.

Camden County Metro police responded to the shooting at around 10:57 a.m. after police received multiple 911 calls for reports of a robbery, police said. Upon arrival, officers found Morales inside of the store suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported by ambulance to Cooper University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 11:25 a.m.

NBC Philadelphia reports Morales was the store’s owner. He was just days from his wedding, according to that report.

Along with his fiancée, Morales leaves behind an infant son who was set to turn one the next month, the outlet said.

Those with information about this investigation are asked to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit Detective Daniel Crawford at (856) 580-2223 or Camden County Police Department Homicide Detective Matthew Dunlop (609) 519-7344. Tips can also be sent anonymously to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.