BROWNS MILLS, NJ – Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that an 18-year-old Pemberton Township man has been indicted for fatally shooting a 17-year-old male and wounding a 17-year-old female last year in the 100 block of Snow Avenue in Browns Mills.
The indictment against Kai Johnson charges him with Murder (First Degree), Attempted Murder (First Degree), Aggravated Assault (Second Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree), and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree).
The indictment was returned yesterday and signed by Prosecutor Coffina. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court. Johnson has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since turning himself in to police three days after the shootings.
The investigation began October 18, after officers from the Pemberton Township Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, they discovered Malachi Treherne, 17, of Pemberton Township, lying in the doorway of the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The 17-year-old female, who had been shot in the chest, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, and has since been released.
The investigation revealed that Johnson and the decedent were having an argument inside the house when Johnson pulled out a gun and shot both victims. An autopsy determined that Malachi Treherne died as a result of two gunshot wounds to his head.
Johnson is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson.
The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Pemberton Township Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Erica Ridge and PTPD Detective Anthony Luster.