Disabled Trenton man’s 2014 violent death remains partially unsolved

One suspect remains at large in the slaying of intellectually disabled Trenton man Rodney Burke, but a larger degree of justice has been served in the murder case. Three co-defendants who participated in the deadly November 2014 robbery-turned-homicide are serving state prison sentences after admitting their roles in the violent crime. Jaquan Dallas, 22, of … Read more →

Convicted killer apologizes for fatal shooting of disabled man

It was the knock at the door no mother wants to hear. Gloria Burke’s landlord stood outside, accompanied by two detectives. The detectives showed Gloria a picture asked her if she recognized the man in the photo. She said it was her son. They paused for what seemed like minutes. “I’m so sorry, ma’am,” the … Read more →

Murder indictments handed up in Trenton shooting death of mentally ill victim

By Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman Three men accused of shooting and killing intellectually disabled city resident Rodney Burke during an attempted robbery last year have all been indicted this week on first-degree felony murder charges and related offenses, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday. The indictment alleges Kenneth Hines, 35, Alexandria Gomez, 31, and Jaquan Dallas, … Read more →

Mental health counselors knew South Broad Street apartment was hotspot for crime

Counselors working at Greater Trenton Behavioral Healthcare knew that a building on South Broad Street was a hotspot for illegal activity months before they chose to move Rodney Burke into an apartment there. “The counselor said, ‘Now looking back, we think we failed him,’” his sister Crystal Burke said. Rodney Burke, 48, was found suffering … Read more →

Admitted getaway driver in robbery murder has bail reduced

A Trenton man has admitted driving the getaway car in a botched robbery that led to the murder of a 48-year-old man, prosecutors said, but he is not the one who pulled trigger. Kenneth Hines, 34, is charged with murder as an accomplice and conspiracy in the shooting death of Rodney Burke and is locked … Read more →

Alexandria Gomez charged in connection with shooting death of Rodney Burke

A second person has been charged in connection with the shooting death of 48-year-old Rodney Burke. Alexandria Gomez, 30, is charged with murder and conspiracy, and prosecutors say she conspired with others to commit a robbery, which resulted in Burke’s death. Kenneth Hines, 34, was arrested last week and charged with those same offenses in … Read more →

Alexandria Gomez

Suspected in the Nov. 4, 2014, death of Rodney Burke.