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A "person of interest" in the fatal shooting, charged with arson, also is now dead of unspecified causes, according to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Gloucester City Police Chief Brian Morrell.
On Monday, March 27, at 6:31 p.m., the Gloucester City Police Department and the Gloucester City Fire Department responded to a motel at 1200 Route 130 in Gloucester City for a fire alarm.
Police fouind a dead man and dead woman in a motel room, suffering from gunshot wounds, MacAulay said.
The dead woman was identified as Tabitha Price, 56, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, and the dead man was identified as Steven Smith, 52, of Atco, NJ, the prosecutor said.
Firefighters also found and extinguished a fire in a separate room, MacAulay said.
On Wednesday, March 29, Vaughn Perkins, 53, of Philadelphia, was identified as the individual who caused the fire "and was considered the person of interest in the fatal shootings," the prosecutor said.
Perkins was charged with aggravated arson, she said.
The homicides remain under investigation.
"There is no threat to the public as Perkins is now deceased," the prosecutor's statement said.
Authorities did not say how Perkins died.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Daniel Crawford of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at (856) 580-2223 and Detective Keith O'Donnell of the Gloucester City Police Department at (856) 456-7797. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.
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