Man Killed Gloucester Twp. Resident, Fled State In Stolen Car: Prosecutor

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A man was charged with murder after a Gloucester Township man was shot in the doorway to his apartment, authorities said Friday.

Matthew Lucas, 24, of Gloucester Township, was identified as the suspect who fatally shot Anthony Sanflippo at the Lakeview Apartments complex last week, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

• Read more: Homicide At Gloucester Twp. Apartment Complex Under Investigation: Prosecutor

Lucas stole a vehicle from a witness at the apartment complex, authorities said. The vehicle was found Saturday in New York City, where Lucas was arrested for an unrelated crime, according to prosecutors.

Two days later, Lucas was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree weapons offenses.

Lucas remains jailed at Rikers Island in New York, pending extradition to New Jersey.

The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. July 9 at the Lakeview Apartments on the 500 block of Lower Landing Road, authorities said. Sanflippo, 53, was found in the doorway of his apartment and pronounced dead.

Detectives found a .45 caliber shell casing at the scene and learned that the suspect stole a vehicle from a witness at the complex, authorities said. The suspect was described as wearing a black surgical mask, head garment with tassels and green pants.

The stolen vehicle was later found on W 49th Street in New York City. Lucas was arrested a block away.

Lucas had the key to the stolen vehicle and a .45 caliber handgun, authorities said. He was also wearing a mask and head garment consistent with the description detectives received.

Green pants with suspected blood on them were found inside the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Ballistics testing confirmed the shell casing from the homicide scene matched Lucas's gun, authorities said.

Lucas was charged in New York with second-degree weapon possession, according to jail records.

A motive in the alleged homicide has not been disclosed.

Attorney information for Lucas wasn't available Friday in online court records.

Anyone with information can contact Det. Tanner Ogilvie of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office at 856-580-5819 and Det. Daniel Ritz of the Gloucester Township Police Department at 856-228-4500. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.