Galloway, NJ, man charged with murder while out awaiting sentencing on gun charge

A Galloway Township man who was released from prison while awaiting sentencing on an unrelated gun charge has now been charged in connection to a fatal shooting in Pleasantville earlier this month.

Kalief Lyons of Galloway Twp., NJ, Charged

35-year-old Kalief Lyons has been charged with murder and related weapons offenses for the death of 38-year-old Baseem Taliaferro.

It was on the night of May 9th that officers with the Pleasantville Police Department were called to 9 West Pleasant Avenue for a report of gunshots.

At the scene, cops found Taliaferro inside of an apartment at that address with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's office says a witness stated an argument had occurred between Lyons and several other people in the area about 20 minutes before shots were heard.

According to officials,

Following the argument, Lyons left the area, but surveillance captured him walking back towards the rear of 9 W. Pleasant Avenue wearing a ski mask. Lyons was then observed walking away from the area of the shooting approximately two minutes after and without wearing the ski mask.

Lyons was arrested by the Galloway Township Police Department about two and a half hours later. At that time, authorities say he had a 9mm handgun and a large quantity of narcotics and he was wearing the same clothes that he had on when he was seen on video.

Ballistics evidence confirmed the handgun recovered from Lyons was the same that was used to kill Taliaferro, according to prosecutors.

Released From Prison Over State's Objection

Lyons had previously pleaded guilty back in March to a charge of second-degree certain persons not to possess firearms in connection to an armed road rage incident where he brandished a handgun in Galloway in November 2022. The court released Lyons from the Atlantic County Justice Facility to home detention without a bracelet pending sentencing over the State’s objection.

In that case, sentencing was scheduled for May 28th and he will likely receive eight years behind bars.

Previous reporting says Lyons was released from Bayside State Prison in June 2022 after serving a five-year sentence on drug charges.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.