Child, 14, slain after attending birthday party in Camden

Jim Walsh and Phaedra Trethan, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·4 min read
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The Pride of Camden Elks Lodge on Mount Ephraim Avenue was quiet Monday morning, days after a 14-year-old was fatally shot after leaving a birthday party there.
The Pride of Camden Elks Lodge on Mount Ephraim Avenue was quiet Monday morning, days after a 14-year-old was fatally shot after leaving a birthday party there.

CAMDEN – Ali Sloan El sat in his car outside the Pride of Camden Elks Lodge 83 on Monday morning, trying to make sense of a child's murder Saturday night after a birthday party at the facility on the 1800 block of Mount Ephraim Avenue.

The victim was a 14-year-old boy who was fatally shot around 9:30 p.m.. The investigation into the killing is ongoing, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said.

The child, Dai’meon Allen, was a ninth-grade student at Lindenwold High School.

In a statement, Lindenwold’s school district said it was “shocked and saddened” by the youth’s slaying.

“Our hearts and thoughts sincerely go out to his family, friends, and loved ones,” said the district, which noted grief counselors are available to the school community throughout the week.

"We've got to get a handle on the guns that are killing our babies," said Sloan El, a longtime city activist and leader of the Elks Lodge. "I've worked with youth, but we've got more work to do."

On Monday, the remnants of a party remained outside the lodge: deflated blue and white balloons, paper decorations of hot cocoa and coffee, a sign that said "Love you a latte."

Deflated balloons sit outside the Pride of Camden Elks Lodge, where a 14-year-old attended a birthday party and was fatally shot Saturday night.
Deflated balloons sit outside the Pride of Camden Elks Lodge, where a 14-year-old attended a birthday party and was fatally shot Saturday night.

But less than a block away, in front of Capital Academy, a residential treatment facility, an array of memorial candles were arranged on the sidewalk, paying tribute to a life cut cruelly short.

"We send our condolences to the family," said Sloan El.

The lodge is cooperating with investigators, he added: "We are in full support of the authorities for catching the murderer of this young man. We want this individual captured.

"We just want to let the family know we care."

The lodge rents its facility for events, Sloan El said. It has several members whom he described as "mostly older people." He said he had not yet spoken to the family.

Candles are arranged outside Capital Academy, where a 14-year-old boy was gunned down after attending a birthday party at the Elks Lodge a block away.
Candles are arranged outside Capital Academy, where a 14-year-old boy was gunned down after attending a birthday party at the Elks Lodge a block away.

Anyone with information about the teen's slaying is asked to call Prosecutor’s Detective Matthew Kreidler at 856-930-5355 and Camden County Police Detective Matthew Dunlop at 609-519-7344.

Camden County Police have been "tirelessly working in partnership with the CCPO since Saturday night to ensure this tragic homicide gets solved and the suspect is brought to justice as quickly as possible," said Dan Keashen, spokesman for the department.

"This senseless act of violence is an absolute tragedy for our community and we will not rest until the shooter is in custody.”

Allen previously attended Camden High, and counselors were available at the school for any student who needed support. A moment of silence was observed Monday morning and another will be observed at December's board meeting. Superintendent Katrina McCombs sent a letter home to students' families to inform them of Allen's death.

"The loss of a young life is such a traumatic experience for the loved ones left behind, their peers, and the whole community," McCombs' letter read. "We are extremely saddened by this news and wanted to keep students and families informed about this incident and the support measures that have been put in place to help our students."

The school campus, which includes four learning communities including Camden High School, Brimm Medical Arts, Creative Arts and Bright Picture Learning Academy, also had a heightened police presence, McCombs said, "out of an abundance of caution... to ensure the safety of our students and staff."

McCombs added her hope that families and others in the community should Parents and community members, "will take the time to talk with our young people about this incident and allow them to share their thoughts and feelings."

The killing was the first of two homicides in Camden on Saturday night.

In a separate incident, Duron Williams, 35, was stabbed to death in North Camden shortly before 11 p.m., the prosecutor's office said.

A suspect, 35-year-old Eduardo Villanueva-Garcia of Camden, was arrested after an investigation.

Witnesses told police that Villanueva-Garcia arrived outside Williams’ home and yelled for the victim.

“Williams exited the residence and asked if Villanueva-Garcia was going to stab him,” said a statement giving probable cause for the charges against the suspect.

Villanueva-Garcia swung a knife, stabbing Williams in the chest, a witness said.

The suspect left the scene, but later “responded to police and advised officers that he wanted to turn himself in for stabbing someone,” the statement said.

Villanueva-Garcia was charged with murder and a weapons offense. He is being held in Camden County Jail.

The charges against Villanueva-Garcia are only allegations. He has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Boy's fatal shooting one of two Camden homicides on Saturday night