One dead, four injured in South Ward drive-by

One man is dead and four others were wounded after a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Jersey Street and Home Avenue.

At approximately 9:59 p.m. Saturday, a vehicle traveling down Home avenue stopped in front of a crowd gathered in front of a convenience store. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s office said that shots were fired from the vehicle into the crowd. The vehicle then fled the scene, the prosecutor’s office said. Authorities said that 24-year-old Brandon Varlow, of Centre Street in Trenton, was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Four others were shot, three males ages 24, 25 and 43 and a 25-year-old female was also hit. they were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment and are expected to survive.

Varlow had only recently been released from prison on Dec. 5, on a second degree robbery sentence. He had previously been incarcerated on drug and robbery charges in 2009 and May 2013.

The intersection at Jersey Street and Home Avenue has seen its share of heartbreak, earlier this year Sidique Richardson (Howlen) was gunned down in a similar event on April 5. Also injured was a bystander inside the Community Mini Market who was struck by errant gunfire.

The alleged wheelman in Richardson’s death, Robert Smith, 22, of Trenton, was charged on April 22, as an accessory to murder and on weapons offenses. In that killing the prosecutor’s office said Smith could face 30 years to life in prison, which is the same penalty as if he had fired the gun that killed Richardson. Police would return to the intersection just weeks later for yet another shooting, this time it was not fatal.

The prosecutor’s office said that the investigation is ongoing into Saturday’s shooting.

Anyone who may have information regarding the shooting is asked to call the homicide task force, which includes members of the prosecutor’s office, Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, at (609) 989-6406 or the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663. Additionally, tipsters may or the Crimestoppers tipline at (609) 278-8477. Those wishing to text a tip regarding the homicide can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.

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