In the early morning hours of December 27, 2016, the quiet of a Willingboro, New Jersey neighborhood was shattered by gunfire. Responding to a call shortly before 2:30 a.m., police discovered the body of 32-year-old Tariq Mughal, a male resident of the township, lying in the street on the first block of Genesee Lane. He had been fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators noted that Mughal did not reside in the immediate area where his body was discovered, adding a layer of mystery to the circumstances of his death. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of his death, which was being investigated as a homicide.
In the days and weeks that followed, the investigation into Tariq Mughal's murder continued, but no immediate arrests were made. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the Willingboro Police Department worked to piece together the events leading to the shooting, searching for a motive and a suspect. The initial reports indicated that the gunman remained at large, and authorities appealed to the public for any information that could aid in their investigation. A tip line was established for community members to anonymously provide any details they might have, no matter how insignificant they might seem.
As the months passed with no resolution, Tariq Mughal's case was included in a list of unsolved homicides in Burlington County for which a reward was offered. In March 2017, the County Prosecutor's Office announced a financial incentive for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for his death, along with several other unsolved cases. Despite these efforts, the case has remained unsolved, with no publicly identified suspects or arrests made in connection with the fatal shooting. The search for answers and justice for Tariq Mughal continues.
