Prisoner arraigned in '01 killing of Rutgers student

A former Camden man serving life plus 85 years in federal prison was arraigned yesterday in state Superior Court on a murder charge in the shooting of Hiram Rosa, a Rutgers University-Camden student killed blocks from campus in 2001.

Allen "Tito Allen" Resto, 27, was convicted in federal court in June 2005 of being part of a crack-cocaine and heroin ring that controlled large sections of North Camden.

The ring, led by Enrique "Rick" Perez, was tied to three homicides, including Rosa's. In federal court, Resto was linked to all three murders as either the gunman or an accomplice.

The killing of Rosa, a finance major who grew up in a nearby housing project, shocked the city and the Rutgers campus.

Perez, who testified against other members of his organization in court, admitted shooting Rosa with an assault rifle for disrespecting the gang. He said Resto and two others had helped him plan and carry out the shooting.- Troy Graham