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.
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Police have identified the man who was shot and killed Friday night as 32-year-old Robert Wright.
Around 5:45 p.m. Friday, Wright and a second victim were shot outside a liquor store in the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue. Wright, whose last known address is in Bridgeton, NJ, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, police say; and the second victim was struck in the leg.
Both men were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where Wright was later pronounced dead. The name of the second victim is being withheld, but police say he is a 30-year-old man from Ewing, and that his injuries are non-life-threatening.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and the case is being investigated by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force. Anyone with information can call 609.989.6406, or use the Trenton police confidential tip line at 609.989.3663.
A city man died Friday night when two people were shot outside a liquor store.
According to police sources, the two men were shot in front of a liquor store in the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue around 5:45 p.m. Friday.
Police say one of the victims was shot in the chest, and the other was struck in the leg. Both victims were taken to the hospital, and the victim who was shot in the chest later passed away, Trenton police confirmed.
Friends of the two men told The Trentonian Friday night that Robert Wright of Trenton is the victim who passed away, and DeShawn Magee, also of Trenton, was wounded.
Police say this is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact law enforcement.
Shaheed Morris contributed to this report.
A 16-year-old male was arrested Saturday in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Shamere Melvin.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, police found Melvin lying on the sidewalk in the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. Melvin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Then, around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, police arrested a 16-year-old Trenton resident and charged him with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with Melvin’s death.
Sources say the juvenile was arrested near the corner of Walnut and Chestnut Avenue by members of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the state probation division. The suspect has been remanded to the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center.
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.
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A teenager was found Wednesday evening shot and killed on the sidewalk in front of a residence on North Clinton Avenue.
On Thursday morning, police identified the victim as 17-year-old Shamere Melvin of Trenton.
According to police, officers were dispatched around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue to investigate a “man down.” When they arrived on scene, police found a black male, later identified as Melvin, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. Melvin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers were still on-scene around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, and Melvin could be seen lying against a fence in front of a residential dwelling. A white sheet covered his body, and a woman who witnesses identified as one of Melvin’s relatives could be heard sobbing from a block away.
Minister Lee Ingram, a trained Trenton Police Chaplain, was on-scene as well. But because Trenton’s Police Chaplain Program has not officially begun, he was not permitted to console the grief-stricken family.
“It’s tiring,” Minister Ingram said in a conversation Thursday. “The emotional state of people in this city is just bad. And it’s tiresome that so many young men are losing their lives and nobody seems to care. I just get tired that the mothers and the families are forgotten after the first seven days.”
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Police have identified the man who was shot and killed Wednesday on North Clinton Avenue.
Around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, police found 17-year-old Trenton resident Shamere Melvin lying on the sidewalk in the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound. Melvin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406, or call the Trenton police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663.
A man was found Wednesday evening shot and killed on the sidewalk in front of a residence on North Clinton Avenue.
According to law enforcement, around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue to investigate a “man down.” When officers arrived on scene, sources say, they found a black male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers were still on-scene around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, and the victim could be seen lying against a fence in front of a residential dwelling. A white sheet covered his body, and a woman who witnesses identified as the victim’s relative could be heard sobbing from a block away.
Police said Wednesday evening that the victim’s identity is unknown at this time.
The case is being investigated by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force. Anyone with information is asked to call (609) 989-6406, or use the Trenton police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663.
A Mercer County judge refused Monday to lower bail for Isiah Greene, the man accused of shooting and killing 24-year-old Quaadir “Ace” Gurley.
Around 1:30 a.m. July 21, Gurley was shot several times on the porch of a residence in the 100 block of Rossell Avenue. He later died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
Greene was arrested Nov. 18 and charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun in connection with Gurley’s death. Bail was set at $500,000 cash, and on Monday, Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier refused to lower that bail.
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A Trenton man was arrested last week and charged with murder in connection with the death of 24-year-old Quaadir “Ace” Gurley.
Around 1:30 a.m. July 21, Gurley, who police say was a high-ranking Bloods gang member, was shot multiple times on the porch of a residence in the Donnelly Homes housing complex. He later died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
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