Two Charged With Murder for 2020 Fatal Shooting in Burlington County

Two people have been charged in connection to a fatal shooting of a 22-year-old woman inside of her apartment in Maple Shade early last year.

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Maple Shade Township Police Chief Christopher Fletcher say 21-year-old Semaj T. Pittman of Willingboro has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon. Pittman was served with these new charges inside the Burlington County Jail where he is being held on an unrelated matter.

A teenager from Evesham Township has also has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, and first-degree robbery from the same incident. He is currently being detained in Middlesex County.

Coffina says an investigation began on the afternoon of February 23rd, 2020, after Maple Shade police officers were called to The Arbors apartment complex for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where the woman, Kayla Winkler, was pronounced dead. Her boyfriend, 24-year-old Ramek Bass of Philadelphia, was treated and released for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Get our free mobile app

According to authorities, "The investigation revealed that Pittman and the juvenile went to the apartment to rob Winkler and Bass, with whom they were acquainted. Pittman pulled a gun after they were let inside, and shot the victims as they tried to leave the apartment."

Numerous law enforcement agencies worked on this case, including the Maple Shade Township Police Department, the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management, the Cherry Hill Police Department, the Cinnaminson Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.