2003 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

April 26, 2003

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Acting Camden Police Chief Edwin Figueroa announced today that officers made three arrests Friday in connection with two recent, apparently unrelated homicides in the City of Camden.

In one case, State Police arrested Lance L. Bean, 20, outside his residence in the Aspen Hill Apartments in Deptford, at approximately 9:30 p.m. Bean is charged with Murder in connection with the death of Donald Sanders, M/29. The victim, who lived in the Cherrywood Apartments in Clementon, was found fatally shot in the 1300 block of Lakeshore Drive in Camden at approximately 11:15 p.m. on April 16, 2003. The investigation indicates Sanders and Bean engaged in a loud argument and that Bean then fired a handgun repeatedly at Sanders. The victim died from multiple gunshot wounds.

A previously released spelling of the victim's last name was incorrect.

In the second case, two male juveniles, one 15 and the other 13, are charged with Felony Murder in connection with the beating death of Christino Hernandez, M/64. Both teenagers live in Camden. Their names are being withheld because of their ages.

Hernandez, of the 3100 block of Merriel Avenue in Camden, died Saturday night, April 19, 2003, at Cooper Medical Center in Camden. He had been assaulted at approximately 5 a.m. on April 15, 2003, in the area of Westfield Avenue and Church Street.

The investigation indicates that the defendants, in robbing the victim, struck him repeatedly with their fists, feet and various objects, including a brick, and then searched through Hernandez's pockets as he lay injured on the ground. Camden County Medical Examiner Dr. Paul Hoyer determined the cause of death to be multiple head injuries and the manner of death to be homicide.

"The list of those charged with trying to buy drugs in Camden last night provides further confirmation for what we have learned from prior operations: The majority of buyers at drug sets in the city come from the suburban towns," Sarubbi said. "Drug abuse is a county-wide problem, and so is the Camden drug trafficking problem."

Both juveniles were arrested in Camden around lunchtime Friday. The 13-year-old was in possession of a .22-caliber handgun when he was apprehended. Both are being held at the Camden County Youth Detention Center in Blackwood.

No waiver will be sought for the 13-year-old because New Jersey law requires that a defendant be at least 14 to face adult charges. A decision on whether to seek a waiver for the 15-year-old will be made after a review of the facts and circumstances, Sarubbi said.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.