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Jury Convicts Willingboro Man in Shooting Death of Lindenwold Woman Over Cell Phone She Had Listed For Sale

The investigation revealed that Marvin A. Coleman Jr. made arrangements through an app to purchase a used cell phone. Instead of buying the phone, Coleman executed the woman.

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced on March 22, 2023 that Marvin A. Coleman Jr., 24, of Willingboro Township was convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Lindenwold woman while she was sitting in her car in the Millbrook Park section of Willingboro Township.

A Superior Court jury deliberated yesterday and today for approximately three hours before returning guilty verdicts against Coleman on charges of Felony Murder (First Degree), Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree).


The investigation began after police were called to the first block of Medley Lane just before 8:30 a.m. on March 7, 2019, for a report of a female in a parked car with an apparent gunshot wound.

Arriving officers found Maribely Lopez in the driver’s seat of her Ford Focus with the engine still running. The investigation determined the shooting occurred at approximately 11 p.m. the night before.

The investigation further revealed that Coleman had made arrangements on March 6 through the marketplace app OfferUp to purchase a used cell phone from Lopez. They agreed that Lopez would meet Coleman in front of a house on Medley Lane, which is a short walk through a field from the defendant’s residence on Marlboro Lane.

But instead of buying the phone, Coleman executed Lopez by firing a shot through the partially opened driver’s side window. The phone that was advertised for sale was discovered by investigators inside of the car.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood revealed that Lopez died from a single gunshot to the head.

Coleman was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Bob Van Gilst, supervisor of the BPCO Major Crimes Unit, and Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Conte. The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Willingboro Township Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Sergeant Tony Luyber and Willingboro Detective Sergeant Jason Galiazzi.

Sentencing Date

The Hon. Gerard H. Breland, J.S.C., scheduled sentencing for June 9.