Galloway Gun Case Ends With 5-Year Sentence

A Galloway Township man is headed to prison after pleading guilty in July to a second-degree charge of possessing a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

John Thompson III, 36, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison on Tuesday, with a mandatory 3.5 years before parole eligibility.

The Case Against John Thompson III

The case against Thompson stems from a June 30, 2025 investigation around 620 S. Simms Ave. in Galloway Township that initially had nothing to do with Thompson.

Police were investigating an unrelated matter when they heard several gunshots and found an injured man nearby with a gunshot wound.

While investigating, officers said they went to Thompson's home and tried to contact anyone inside.

When Thompson didn't respond, police called Thompson to request entry into his home and access to an outside camera to help with the investigation.

Thompson denied both of those requests.

Police Get Search Warrants

Galloway Township Police then obtained search warrants for Thompson's home and camera system.

While executing the warrant, officers found a shotgun inside the home. After looking at the footage from the outdoor camera, officers saw Thompson on video holding a shotgun.

During his trial, Thompson testified in court that the shotgun seen on the video was the same one recovered from his home and that he picked it up that night to use against someone outside his house.

Police also saw Thompson on the video pursuing the same injured man first found on the lawn and then moving off camera while carrying the shotgun, officials said.

Thompson was not permitted to own or purchase firearms in New Jersey or any other state, authorities said.