Surveillance tool helps detective identify North Camden murder suspect
CAMDEN - An automatic license plate reader helped detectives track down a murder suspect here.
The surveillance technology came into play after a man stepped from a black Nissan Sentra and opened fire on a man on the 700 block of Bailey Street in North Camden on Oct. 15.
The 12:45 p.m. shooting fatally wounded Jose G. Rivera, a 46-year-old city resident, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
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Video of the scene showed two numbers, "44," from the Sentra's license plate, and an automatic license plate reader spotted a suspect car minutes later on Admiral Wilson Boulevard.
Detectives identified the car's registered owner as Jose O. Rivera, and then found the car unoccupied behind the suspect's home on the 3000 block of Stevens Street.
Police later stopped the car when Rivera was driving from the scene.
The vehicle tested positive for gunshot residue on the driver door, steering wheel, gear shifter and center console, according to a probable cause statement for the case.
A search of Rivera's home found clothing consistent with those seen on the gunman. They also tested positive for gunshot residue, the statement says.
In addition, it adds, toll records showed Rivera's cell phone number was "at or very near the location of the homicide."
Rivera, 34, was charged with murder. He is being held in Camden County Jail.
The charge is only an allegation. Rivera has not been convicted in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor's Detective Daniel Crawford at 856-225-2593 or Camden County Police Detective Brian Ford at 609-519-6927.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: License plate reader leads detectives to murder suspect Jose O. Rivera
