Latest shooting death in Trenton worries residents, business owners

By Shaheed M. Morris
For The Trentonian

Homicide detectives continued their investigation Saturday into the deadly shooting that left one man dead and another man wounded outside of the Bilancio’s Wine and Liquor store located on the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue, police said.

Robert D. Wright, 32, was shot in the abdomen and died in emergency surgery at Capital Health Regional Medical Center on Friday, officials said.

Wright, who last lived in Bridgeton, was a known drug dealer, according to police. New Jersey Department of Corrections records indicate Wright was arrested four times on illegal possession to distribute drugs twice in 2005 and 2008. He also had a theft of movable property charge listed on his record.

The other victim, a 30-year-old man, was shot in the leg and his injuries are non-life threatening.

Friday night into Saturday authorities stationed a mobile police command with a light and police car outside of the liquor store. The liquor store reopened for business late Saturday afternoon. Store workers declined to comment.
On the sidewalk in front of the store, evidence cards marked the places of 11 shell casings found on the sidewalk outside of the liquor store. A cone was also placed on a car with a shattered front windshield. A single bullet hole was visible in the store’s front glass. The sidewalk in front of the store was roped off with yellow colored crime tape.

Maria, whose family owns Four Corners Supermarket, a convenience store located a few doors down from the liquor store said her family is selling their business after being in the city for only one year because of the rampant open-air drug dealing in the area.

“We’ve had enough of the drug dealers and violence here,” she said as she pointed to the for sale sign posted on the façade of the store.

Many of the homes in the nearby blocks are vacant and boarded up. Ed Cruz, who lives on Hudson Street, said that the open-air drug traffic is forcing him to put a for sale sign on his house, also.

“I can’t wait to sell my home,” Cruz said. “The drug dealers outnumber the decent, honest, hardworking people here.”

Witnesses initially reported that a person in a wheelchair was involved in the shooting, but police were not able to confirm nor provide any descriptions of the gunmen. The alleged shooters remain at large as of press time.

“The investigation is an ongoing investigation,” Lt. Steve Varn said. Police Director Ralph Rivera stated publicly that the Hamilton Avenue and Hudson Street area is a known heroin and crack cocaine plagued location.

“This is the worst place I’ve ever lived in,” Linn Parrish, a South Clinton Avenue resident said. “The drug dealing and prostitution is out of control.”

This year has been the deadliest in the city’s history.

No arrests have been made in the case. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is investigating the case. Anyone with information can contact the county homicide task force at (609) 989-6406 or the Trenton police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663. Those wishing to text a tip can send a text message labeled TSCTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274634.

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