Arrests made in James Austin case

Less than 24 hours after James Austin, the son of retired Trenton Police Sgt. Luddie Austin, was murdered, Trenton police and the U.S. Marshals made two arrests in the case on Wednesday.

James Austin with his twin daughters.

James Austin with his twin daughters.


James Austin was gunned down while allegedly fighting with another man on the 900 block of East State Street Tuesday afternoon. His vehicle was found at the scene with the rear windshield shattered. The suspects allegedly fled the scene in a silver Honda Civic that suffered extensive damage to the windshield.

Police recovered the vehicle after a woman claiming to be James Austin’s mother called The Trentonian requesting a meeting with a reporter at a location that turned out to be the area where the vehicle was dumped. Overnight, police developed enough probable cause to charge Robert Bartley, 22, of Trenton, with felony murder, murder, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Lt. Stephen Varn said.
He was arrested at 9:08 a.m. Wednesday morning at Hanford Place Wednesday morning by the Marshals who notified Luddie Austin of the arrest within hours of it happening, Luddie Austin said.
Later in the day at TPD headquarters, Raheem Currie, 22, of Trenton, was charged with possession of a weapon in relation to the investigation, Varn said.
Luddie Austin said the news of the arrests left him excited and relieved that his family will have some closure, but said he was still in pain.
“I lost my son and now another family is losing theirs to incarceration,” Luddie Austin said.
Varn said the case still remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the homicide can call the confidential tipline at 609-989-3663 or Trenton Crime Stoppers at 609-278-8477.
Alternatively, tipsters who prefer to text a tip can text information to TCSTIPS to 274637.

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