Authorities have identified two men killed in a daylight shooting on a Salem City street Sunday.
In announcing these deaths, Salem County’s prosecutor said ongoing gun violence in the city has reached a “crisis level.”
Jerry Taylor, 25, of Salem, was in the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Aveo on Olive Street when he was fired on around 5:15 p.m., according to the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office. His passenger, Lee Williams, 29, of Carneys Point Township, jumped out of the car as multiple shots were fired.
Responding officers found Williams on the side of the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Salem Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Taylor, who had also been shot several times, attempted to drive from the scene, but crashed head-on into a parked SUV near Olive and Wesley streets. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe a lone shooter armed with a handgun is responsible for both deaths. The killer ran from the scene, according to police.
While this shooting doesn’t seem to be gang-related, a motive for the crime remains unclear at this stage, said Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan.
These killings bring Salem’s homicide total to seven for this year, with six victims killed by gunfire.
“The shooting homicides in Salem City in 2020 are at a crisis level,” Lehahan said. “Every available resource will be dispatched to the city to help quell this violence.”
A task force made up of city, county, state and federal agencies was formed earlier this year to counter the spike in violence on Salem’s streets. Much of that violence was attributed to gang disputes.
Several people were in the area Sunday when the shooting occurred, so police are hoping witnesses will step forward.
Anyone with information concerning the killings is asked to contact Salem County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Quenton Mulford at 856-769-0235 or Salem City Police Detective Sgt. Sean Simpkins at 856-935-0033, ext. 2.
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.