Trenton murder suspect arrested after standoff in Connecticut
After an hour-long standoff with U.S. Marshalls and the SWAT team in New Haven, Conn., city man Alton Jones is under arrest, according to the U.S. Marshals.
Jones, 21, was wanted by Trenton police for two separate homicides in June. He allegedly shot and killed both Rayshawn Ransom, 19, on June 12 and Tierra Green, 19, on June 15. Police announced that the manhunt for Jones on June 21.
“He went ghost,” Deputy Marshal Michael Schroeder said. “We’ve been working 20 hours a day on this case since the warrant was issued.”
“[The marshals] were so elated to get this guy,” he added.
After interviewing friends and family of Jones, the marshals developed a lead that Jones may be hiding in the New Haven. The marshals in Connecticut were notified and on Monday, they began to wait outside a home on the 100 block of Newhall Street for signs of Jones.
On Tuesday, around noon, their patience was rewarded.
“They saw him come out of the house and when he saw the vehicles, he ran back inside the house,” Schroeder said. “He barricaded himself in the home.”
New Haven SWAT team was called to the home and after an hour of negotiations, Jones surrendered peacefully. He is currently awaiting extradition to New Jersey. He has been charged with homicide for both the Ransom and Green cases, Trenton police Lt. Mark Kieffer said. The home where Jones was arrested is being searched for further evidence, Schroeder said.
Jones joins two of his brothers in facing murder charges. Marquis Skillman, 27, is also facing murder charges as well as weapons offenses in connection with Ransom’s death. Marquis Skillman is the twin brother of Maurice Skillman, who is accused of killing Mercer County Corrections Officer Carl Batie last November. Jones and the Skillman twins are all sons of the late Alton Jones Sr. Of the three murders allegedly committed by the brothers, two of the victims, Batie and Green, are considered to be innocent bystanders by authorities.
