"Having seven shootings, two of them fatal, in one night is troubling. But unfortunately, it’s of a piece with trends that have long been observed in Camden," Laughlin said Thursday afternoon.
Budget cuts forced Camden to lay off 168 officers about 18 months ago. Though most have been rehired through grants, others have since left the force. The department is still short-staffed in a city that struggles with one of the highest crime rates in the country, authorities said.
At 8:30 Wednesday evening, a 32-year-old Camden man was wounded in the 1600 block of Louis Street in what authorities said appeared to be a domestic incident. About 90 minutes later, a 21-year-old man, also from Camden, was shot multiple times near Seventh and Vine Streets.
Fifteen minutes after that, about 10:15, Vincent Cannon, 30, of Camden, was shot once and found lying on the sidewalk in the 800 block of Sixth Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. Another man, a 35-year-old Camden resident, was wounded and remains in critical condition at Cooper University Hospital. Two suspects were seen fleeing in a red vehicle with silver-and-red wheel rims.
Shortly after midnight, Khalil Rand, 29, of Camden, was found shot multiple times and lying on the street outside a black 2012 Volvo on the 1200 block of Langham Avenue. He died from his wounds.
A 20-year-old Camden man suffered multiple gunshot wounds, then staggered to a gas station in the 1800 block of Admiral Wilson Boulevard about 2:40 a.m. Thursday. Police believe he was hit while exiting his car on the 2000 block of Berwick Street.
The Citizens’ Crime Commission is offering $1,000 rewards for each of the killings in return for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible. Information may be called in to the Crime Commission Tipline at 215-546-8477. Anonymity can be protected, authorities said.
Contact staff writer Barbara Boyer at 856-779-3838 or bboyer@phillynews.com.
