Man shot, killed while sitting inside car

Jerome J. Thomas

Jerome J. Thomas

A registered sex offender was shot and killed Friday night while seated inside his vehicle in North Trenton, becoming the city’s 15th homicide victim of 2017.

Jerome J. Thomas, 21, of the Somerset section of Franklin Township in Somerset County, suffered multiple gunshot wounds on the 600 block of Southard Street about 7:50 p.m. Friday, authorities said. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The at-large triggerman was described as a black male who fled the scene after the shooting, police said.

The shooting occurred on Southard Street near Brunswick Avenue. A man who was visiting the area told The Trentonian he had heard five shots and that police arrived on the scene within minutes.

“The violence in Trenton has to stop,” the man said Saturday morning.

Authorities said the victim was shot while seated inside his vehicle, but the talk on the street was that the victim was shot as he was getting out of the vehicle.

The victim was listed under Megan’s Law as a “Tier 2” moderate risk sex offender for a 2013 sexual assault conviction. New Jersey public records show he had offended against three girls ages 13, 15 and 17.

So far this year, 15 people have been killed in this 8-square-mile capital city, which includes the hit-and-run death of 39-year-old Lea Pringle. As of Saturday morning, no arrests have been reported in the slaying of Thomas.

Anyone with information on Friday’s deadly shooting is urged to call the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Individuals may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at (609) 278-8477.

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