35-Year-Old Galloway Man Awaiting Sentencing Now Stands Charged With Murdering A Man On May 9, 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024, 7:30 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PLEASANTVILLE, NJ.- A 35-year-old Galloway Township, New Jersey man who was released after pleading guilty to a firearms charge and was scheduled for sentencing at the end of this month, has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of a 38-year-old Pleasantville, New Jersey man.

     According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, just minutes after 11:00 p.m., members of the Pleasantville Police Department responded to a Multi-Shot ShotSpotter Activation in the area of 9 West Pleasant Avenue in Pleasantville.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers found a man, identified as Baseem Taliaferro inside the first-floor apartment, unresponsive from a gunshot wound to his chest. Mr. Taliaferro was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.

     During the initial investigation, a witness reported to Detectives that an argument had occurred between Kalief Lyons, 35, of Galloway Township, New Jersey, and several other individuals outside 9 West Pleasant Avenue before the shooting. Following the argument, Lyons left the area, but video surveillance captured Lyons walking back towards the rear of 9 West Pleasant Avenue wearing a ski mask. Lyons was then seen walking away from the area of the shooting just two minutes after the shooting and without the ski mask on.

     Within two hours of the shooting death of Mr. Taliaferro, Lyons was taken into custody by members of the Galloway Township Police Department and was found to be in possession of a 9mm handgun and a large quantity of narcotics. Further, Lyons was still wearing the same clothing that he was observed wearing in the video footage leaving the area of the murder. Ballistics evidence determined the gun that Lyons had in his possession was the same weapon that killed Mr. Taliaferro.

     Accordingly, following his arrest, Lyons was formally charged with first-degree Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and second-degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons. Although not reported Lyons will most likely face narcotics charges.

     Lyons was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending future court proceedings in Atlantic County Superior Court in Mays Landing, New Jersey.

     Back on March 5, 2024, Lyons entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Bernard E. DeLury, Jr. to a charge of second-degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons. The State recommended that Lyons be sentenced to an 8-year New Jersey State Prison term in exchange for the guilty plea. Following entering his guilty plea, Judge DeLury, Jr. released Lyons on house arrest without electronic monitoring, over objections from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. Lyons was scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2024.

“The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”