Uncle arrested in fatal shootout that killed Camden boy, 4

The uncle of the 4-year-old boy shot dead during a gun battle last week in Camden was captured last night at the home of an acquaintance.
U.S. Marshals arrested Martin Pierce, of the 1600 block of Norris Street in Camden. He was found by the marshals at a home on Sherwood Lane in Westampton, and is now being held on a charge of attempted murder, accused of trying to kill Donald Lindsey, 20, with whom he had allegedly been feuding for weeks. A warrant was issued for Pierce's arrest late Saturday afternoon.

He surrendered at 8 p.m. Sunday without incident, said Jason Laughlin, spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's office.

Pierce's nephew, Brandon Thompson, was playing on the 1600 block of Norris Street on Aug. 4 when a shootout erupted between a man on a bicycle and another armed man.

One of the rounds struck 4-year-old Brandon Thompson in the head, killing him instantly as he ran to his mother.

A viewing for the child was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. A funeral was to follow at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Delair.

Pierce will be arraigned later this afternoon, authorities said.

Following the shooting, police recovered 29 spent shells at the scene.

Authorities are not sure whose 9mm weapon fired the shot that killed the boy.

The day after the boy's slaying, Stephanie Thompson, Brandon's mother, said she witnessed the man on the bike gun down her son in cold blood.

"I watched my baby get shot," Thompson said Tuesday. "I couldn't get to him fast enough."

Donald Lindsey, 20, was arrested in South Philadelphia early Tuesday morning and charged with the boy's murder.

Lindsey, according to police, admitted he had fired numerous rounds from a Tec-9 during the shootout. He remains at the Camden County jail where is being held on $1 million bail.

Pierce and Lindsey reportedly had been feuding for weeks.

"One claimed the other was a 'woman beater' or a 'wife beater,' but we're not sure who said what," said Laughlin.

Investigators are uncertain if Lindsey knew the boy was related to Pierce.