The development came one day before Shelton Merritt's 25th birthday.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Burlington County man accused of gunning down another South Jersey resident following a dispute inside a city night club will stand trial for murder, the late man's mother confirmed.
Xavier Braswell, 23, of Burlington City Xavier Braswell, 23, of Burlington City, was arrested after the July 25 slaying of Shelton Merritt, 24, of Lindenwold, near Cavanaugh's River Deck.
Accoding to philly.com, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon ruled Wednesday that Braswell -- whom Willingboro police had arrested on drug and weapons possession charges back in March -- would be held for trial on murder and weapons charges.
"It brings me joy to know that my son dying was not in vain, because this young man [Braswell] I believe would have kept killing. My son was sacrificed to get this evil off the street," Alicia Merritt, the late man's mother, said Thursday -- which would have been Shelton Merritt's 25th birthday.
Per the report, a 23-year-old man who was with Braswell the night of the shooting testified that he saw the accused gunman fire at the parked vehicle.
Merritt's mother previously told NJ Advance Media that her son had intervened when he allegedly saw Braswell roughing up a woman inside the club. An argument ensued and club security escorted the offending patrons out. Braswell allegedly caught up with Merritt not long after the altercation and shot him nine times while he was still seated in the back of a Jeep.
Friends and family at the late man's Aug. 3 funeral called on young people to put down their weapons and settle their disputes. A safe surrender event, which those close to Merritt hoped would be held this month, has yet to be scheduled.
"I wasn't at court because emotionally I wasn't ready, but my family was there. I thank God that justice is being served," Merritt said.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.