25-Year-Old Burlington City Man Learned On Friday He Will Be 76-Years-Old When Released From State Prison

Monday, August 26, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CAMDEN, NJ.- On Friday, a 25-year-old Burlington, New Jersey, man learned that he would be a senior citizen when he was sentenced to state prison for fatally shooting  29-year-old Takwail Bailey of Camden, New Jersey man, in November 2021.

Sentenced 60 Years

     According to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay, on Friday, August 23, 2024, Lesure Funari, 25, of Burlington City, New Jersey, appeared in Camden County Superior Court and was sentenced to 60 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, which will require Funari to serve 85% of his custodial term before becoming eligible for parole.

     On June 6, 2024, following a trial, a Camden County jury found Funari guilty on the charges of first-degree Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

Investigation

     The conviction and sentence stem from an investigation that began on November 28, 2024, when, just minutes after 10:30 p.m., members of the Camden County Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation for multiple rounds being fired on the 1000 Block of Lois Avenue in the City of Camden.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers found a man, later identified as Mr. Bailey, lying in the parking lot of an apartment building. Mr. Bailey had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was immediately transported to Cooper University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased around 30 minutes later.

     During the ensuing investigation, Detectives recovered video surveillance that captured the shooting death. The footage showed Furnari exiting a Black Ford F-150 pickup truck parked across the street, approaching Bailey, and shooting him multiple times. Based on the video footage, Detectives were able to identify Funari as the individual responsible for the fatal shooting of Bailey.

     Following his identification, Funari was charged, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On January 7, 2022, Furnari was located and taken into custody at a Camden, New Jersey residence.