Homicide Watch Trenton

A city man died after getting shot in the chest early Saturday morning, according to police.
The victim, which through various social media outlets, is Ira “ZeiRai” Charles, was walking with another man on Randall Avenue around 2:00 a.m. when two men in masks approached them. One of the suspects pulled out a handgun and told the victims to “run their pockets,” according to police.
One of the victims complied and gave up an unknown amount of money and other proceeds, while Charles allegedly hesitated when confronted with the robbers’ demands. The suspects then shot Charles once in the chest before fleeing the scene on foot. The victim was rushed to the Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he died hours later, making him the city’s ninth homicide victim on the year.
Anyone with information regarding the homicide can call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 or the Crime Stoppers 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.

TRENTON — City police are still investigating the shooting that left one man dead Friday night.
Sidiq Howlen was gunned down in front of the Community Mini Market in the 100 block of Home Avenue. Police sources told The Trentonian, the shots that killed the 22-year-old were fired from a silver or possibly gray station wagon. According to the source there were several men who returned fire on the car that fled the area. The second man who was struck in the leg was a bystander.
A friend of the victim, who declined to give his name, said on Friday night that the 22-year-old was a family man and a good guy. The scene Friday night was intense as many residents gathered on their front steps to watch the investigation, some expressed anger that police had not removed Howlen’s body from the scene while others shook their heads and tried to deal with the situation as best they could.
It’s unclear as to what the motive was in the shooting and the incident remains under investigation.
On Saturday a makeshift memorial was hung next to the Mini Market in front of where Howlen was killed. The white sheet was covered in messages to the slain father by many paying their respects.

Residents in the area declined to comment on the death of Richardson. Calls placed to Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr. regarding the homicide were not immediately returned.
Howlen’s death marks the city’s seventh homicide since the beginning of the year.
Police ask that anyone with information regarding the homicide please call please call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 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.

A homicide occurred around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night, marking the third killing of 2013 in Trenton and the second this week.
The victim was by a row house on the 1000 block of South Clinton Avenue.
Homicide detectives were on scene conducting their investigation. The male victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A total of 22 people have been shot this year.

TRENTON — Two more witnesses added to the circumstantial evidence against suspected brother killer Tormu Prall yesterday, both testifying to hearing him make death threats.

Ex-girlfriend Jessie Harley testified that Prall told her “Cain killed Abel” and said he was going to kill his brother, John Prall. She also said she refused to take him to buy gasoline for a plastic gallon container he had.
City sanitation worker Paul Bethea testified that he had known the brothers for 10 years when, on the morning of Jan. 24, 2007, he spotted them from his trash rig arguing face to face outside the bank at East State and North Warren streets.

“It was serious. I started getting nosey and Tormu is like ‘Word is Bond,’”Betea said. “That means you got to get him before he gets you.”

For more on this case, see our story at Trentonian.com.

Police sources this morning say a man stabbed late Tuesday has died from his wounds after being brought to the hospital.

The stabbing occurred a short distance from the Battle Monument just before 11:00 p.m. on the first block of Chapel Street.

Trenton Emergency Medical Services personnel rushed the victim to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was initially listed in critical condition.

Trenton police confirmed that the incident was a stabbing, but did not release further information late last night.

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A city man has become Trenton’s 23rd homicide victim of 2012 after he was shot and then involved in a car accident near the Union Baptist Church.

The shooting happened in the area of Route 31 and Reservoir Street around 8:00 p.m.

A silver car had noticeable damage to its front end and a red car was on a front lawn in the northeast corner of the intersection.

The body remained in the car for a period of time before being removed by the Trenton fire department. It is unknown which vehicle the victim was in.

A woman was in the vehicle with the victim and was taken to Trenton police headquarters for questioning. She did not sustain any injuries.

The exact circumstances of the shooting and the accident have not been released by police.

There have been two homicides in two separate incidents Friday.

The first one occurred just before 11:00 p.m. the 300 block of Pennington Avenue, by the Super Food grocery store.
Police have confirmed the homicide, but released no further information.
A silver vehicle was seen up on the sidewalk  and crashed into a fence. A witness in the area said he saw an elderly woman being taken away by paramedics at the scene. She appeared to be conscious and talking.

The second one occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Kent and Division streets.
Police who were guarding the scene of the earlier homicide rushed to the scene of the second.

A man was shot* in the street near the hood of a parked vehicle.  A resident in the area said he had heard some commotion that sounded like the victim was running from his attacker. The man was taken to the Capital Health Regional Medical Center, but did not survive.

*Police initially reported this homicide as a stabbing, but later determined the victim was killed by a gunshot fired at close range.

From the Nov. 15 edition of the Trentonian:

WILLINGBORO - Carl Kion Batie, 1985-2012, son of Elaine Batie and the late Carl Derry Jr. was born March 3, 1985, in Trenton. He departed this life suddenly on Nov. 11, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center. “Kion” as he was affrectionately known by family and friends was a lifelong Trenton resident before moving to Willingboro. He was a graduate of Trenton Central High School, class of 2003. He began working at the Mercer County Correction Center in Lambertville in 2007. In May 2008 Kion was a cadet in the first class to complete the Mercer County Police Academy’s Correction Officer Training Program. He was dedicated to his job and was highly respected by all who worked with him. During his spare time he enjoyed caring for his dogs, spending time with his brothers, traveling, partying and riding ATVs.
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TRENTON — A Pennington man is being held without bail for ignoring a court order to check himself into an alcohol rehabilitation clinic after a 2010 crash left a city employee dead.

Keith Costill, 57, a former N.J. deputy attorney general, was sentenced in June 2012 to five years of probation after he pled guilty to assault by automobile, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office.
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TRENTON — A city man accused of shooting a Hamilton resident to death was indicted on Friday for murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Kevin Wesley, 28, allegedly shot Victor Thompson in the neck while the victim was sitting in his car on Carver Lane on Nov. 18, 2010, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office.
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