Trio Killed Man In Drive-By Shooting; They Meant To Execute Someone Else: BurlCo Officials

WILLINGBORO, NJ — Three people have been charged with murder nearly a year after a drive-by shooting that killed a man outside of a club in Willingboro, authorities said.

Officials also revealed Friday that the suspects intended to kill a different man who wasn't in the area when shots were fired.

The shooting happened the night of May 21 outside of the 609 Elite Social Club, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Several people were outside when a vehicle traveled past the club on John F. Kennedy Way and returned moments later, authorities said. On the second pass, a gunman in the vehicle fired multiple rounds into the crowd and struck Major Hamilton in the chest, according to law enforcement.

Hamilton, 45, was brought to the hospital, where he died about an hour later.

Several weeks ago, three men were charged for their alleged roles in the incident:

• Kirk Williams, 33, of Burlington City
• Robert Cardona, 39, of Camden
• Christopher Tokley, 45, of Camden

They were each charged with murder (first-degree), conspiracy to commit murder (first-degree), and weapons offenses. All three men are in custody.

Investigators found that the suspects meant to execute a different man who was present at the club but not in the area of the shooting.

Willingboro police arrested Williams on April 10, and U.S. Marshals apprehended Tokley the next day in Camden.

Cardona was served his charges Tuesday at the Camden County Correctional Facility, where he's jailed on unrelated offenses.

Attorney information for the defendants wasn't available in online court records as of Friday.