August 24, 2022
EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Ewing Police Department are investigating an overnight shooting death in Ewing Township, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
Just after 1:00 a.m. on August 24, 2022, Ewing police were dispatched to an apartment on Mid Way Lane on a report of shots fired. Responding officers searched the area and located the victim, identified as Christopher MacLeod, 30, unresponsive on a grassy patch near his apartment building. He had been shot multiple times. MacLeod was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Preliminary investigation revealed that MacLeod was home when there was a knock at his door. He responded and shots were heard moments later. Detectives located shell casings in the common walkway area between buildings.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Detectives do not believe this was a random shooting and evidence suggests MacLeod was the intended target. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to [email protected].
On April 22, 2022, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Christopher MacLeod, 30, of Ewing, was charged with Possession of more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of more than Five Pounds of Hashish with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of Percocet with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); Possession of Percocet in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)(b); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b; Possession of a Firearm during a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; and Financial Facilitation in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25c. MacLeod is lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Christopher MacLeod, 30, of Ewing
Christopher MacLeod, 30, of Ewing, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Photo.
Early morning Breaking News story here:
BREAKING: Shooting Under Investigation In Ewing Town Center
PRESS RELEASE-FOUR MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS AND ONE OCEAN COUNTY RESIDENT CHARGED WITH NARCOTICS AND WEAPONS OFFENSES
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Federal Bureau of Investigation – Red Bank Field Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team, Lakehurst Borough Police Department Patrol Division, Lakehurst Borough Police Department Detective Bureau, Ewing Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ewing Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Elizabeth Police Department Narcotics Bureau, and Elizabeth Police Department Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Division, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, marijuana, and pain medication laced with fentanyl in the Ocean and Mercer County areas. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified three residences in Ewing, one residence in Lakehurst, and a motor vehicle located in Lakewood, as being utilized by Ronald Walker, 37, of Ewing, and Christopher MacLeod, 30, also of Ewing, to store and distribute cocaine, marijuana, and pain pills laced with fentanyl.
On April 14, 2022, Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies executed court-authorized search warrants on the three subject Ewing residences, as well as the subject Lakehurst residence and vehicle located in Lakewood. As a result, Detectives seized approximately three-and-one-half ounces of cocaine, one ounce of Percocet pills laced with fentanyl, one gallon of Promethazine, 600 pounds of Marijuana, a loaded Performance Center M&P .380 Handgun, a loaded Keltec 9mm rifle with high capacity magazine, and approximately $158,000 in United States Currency. Arrested were:
Ronald Walker, 37, of Ewing, charged with Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of more than One Ounce but less than Five Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11)b; Possession of more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Methamphetamine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)(b); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; and Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b. Walker is lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Christopher MacLeod, 30, of Ewing, charged with Possession of more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of more than Five Pounds of Hashish with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of Percocet with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); Possession of Percocet in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)(b); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b; Possession of a Firearm during a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; and Financial Facilitation in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25c. MacLeod is lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Meghan Norton, 33, of Ewing, charged with Possession of More than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of more than Five Pounds of Hashish with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of Percocet with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); Possession of Percocet in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)(b); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; Possession of a Firearm during a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; and Financial Facilitation in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25c. Norton was transported to the Ocean County Jail; she was subsequently released by the Court as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Autumn Hearns, 40, of Ewing, charged with Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of more than One Ounce but less than Five Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11)b; Possession of Methamphetamine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3)(b); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a. Hearns was charged on a summons and released pending a future court appearance.
Dana Altieri, 52, of Lakehurst, charged with Conspiracy to Possess more than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; Possession of a Firearm during a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; Possession of a Large Capacity Firearms Magazine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3j; and Financial Facilitation in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25c. Altieri was charged on a summons and released pending a future court appearance.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – HIDTA Group 5, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Federal Bureau of Investigation – Red Bank Field Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team, Lakehurst Borough Police Department Patrol Division, Lakehurst Borough Police Department Detective Bureau, Ewing Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ewing Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Elizabeth Police Department Narcotics Bureau, and Elizabeth Township Police Department CCTV Division, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).
