In the early morning hours of a Sunday in Camden, New Jersey, the life of 67-year-old Thomas Smith was brought to a violent end. On August 15, 2021, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Smith was riding his bicycle near the intersection of Kaighn Avenue and Louis Street when he was struck by gunfire. First responders found him on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation into the death of Thomas Smith involved a meticulous review of surveillance footage from the area. Detectives were able to determine that the shots were fired from a passing vehicle, a 2000 Nissan Maxima with distinctive damage to a taillight. Law enforcement tracked the vehicle's movements before and after the shooting, eventually locating it in the parking lot of an apartment building in nearby Audubon.
The investigation led police to identify Maurice Peaker, Jr., a 28-year-old man from Philadelphia, as the individual operating the Nissan Maxima at the time of the shooting. A search of the vehicle uncovered a shell casing that matched the caliber and manufacturer of those found at the scene of the crime. Ballistic testing later confirmed that all the shell casings were fired from the same weapon. Further evidence was gathered from surveillance footage at the Audubon apartment building where Peaker was staying with his girlfriend. This included footage of Peaker before and after the shooting, and a tote bag he was carrying that later tested positive for gunshot residue.
In August 2023, a jury found Maurice Peaker, Jr. guilty of the murder of Thomas Smith. He was also convicted of weapons charges related to the incident. For his role in the fatal shooting, Peaker faced the possibility of a life sentence. The conviction brought a measure of justice to the tragic and senseless killing of a senior citizen on his bicycle.
