Woodbury, NJ –Christian Smith, 28, of Woolwich, was sentenced today to 65 years  in State Prison for first-degree murder by the Honorable William Ziegler, J.S.C. 

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial: 

On Oct. 9, 2021, Smith and his stepfather Dennis McKenzie, Jr., were arguing in  their home over offensive comments Smith made about the sexuality of McKenzie’s  daughter and her friend. Smith’s mother and sister attempted to diffuse the  situation, with his mother putting herself between the two men. As the argument  escalated, McKenzie attempted to hit Smith, who then pulled a 9mm handgun from  his waistband, held it over his mother and shot McKenzie once in the face and three  times in the back.  

Smith then disassembled the gun and recorded himself saying “that’s what he gets.” During a two-week trial, the defense argued that Smith acted in the heat of the  moment after the victim referenced abuse the defendant had experienced in past  relationships. They also claimed the shooting occurred during a struggle over a gun,  alleging several shots were fired accidentally before the defendant gained control of  the weapon and continued shooting.  

Woodbury, NJ – A life sentence for Kenneth Houseknecht, who was convicted in the  1988 murder of 12-year-old Kim Anderson, was reaffirmed by the Honorable Kevin  T. Smith today, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced. 

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in open court: On April 19, 1988, 14-year-old Houseknecht broke into the Anderson home, where  Kim was home alone getting ready for school, with the intention of stealing money.  During the incident, Houseknecht brutally attacked the victim, beating and  repeatedly stabbing her, resulting in her death. 

Woodbury, NJ – Elijah Evans, 19, of Pine Hill, and Serenity Hall, 19, of Camden, have been indicted on charges of inciting a riot after a party they allegedly hosted  led to multiple violent events and calls for service. 

According to documents filed in this case: 

On June 29, 2025, the Glassboro Police Department responded to multiple calls on  Rowan Boulevard for various reasons including an armed robbery, a shooting, a stolen motor vehicle, noise complaints, fights, burglary, and disturbances. An investigation found a pop-up “Summer Block Party” had been advertised via  social media with the date and time listed as June 29, 2025, at 10 p.m. The flyer  also contained language encouraging disorderly and unlawful behavior toward law  enforcement.