Grady A. Blue III | Homicide Watch Trenton

Admitted Trenton killer now says he didn't do it

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:21:23 -0500

Grady Blue was done being told to shut up and take the deal.

Grady A. Blue III

In accepting a plea offer earlier this year, Blue III admitted gunning down 23-year-old Naquan Ellis as he was stood with a group of people outside of the North 25 housing complex in June 2014.

He was being sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter, for the shooting that claimed Ellis and injured another woman.

But Grady told the judge he wanted to take back his guilty plea. He accepted responsibility for a gun charge that called for a concurrent 7 years but not for the “body.”

“I ain’t taking no 12 years because I ain’t kill him,” Blue ‘said.

Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Petrucci asked the judge to move forward with sentencing, noting Ellis family was in the courtroom.

Judge Thomas Brown admonished Blue for taking back his plea at the “eleventh hour,” pointing out he admitted killing Ellis when he pleaded guilty in September.

But in the end, the judge gave him time to file court papers outlining why he should be allowed to take back the deal, which was negotiated by public defender Jamie Hubert.

The divide between Hubert and Blue was evident as the suspect blasted his attorney for encouraging him to take the deal and “shut up.”

Hubert didn’t address Blue’s accusations, only saying another attorney would represent him going forward.

Prosecutors had sweetened their offer to Blue, who was previously floated a deal that called for him to serve 30 years for murder.

An alternative deal called for Blue to spend 25 years in prison if he cooperated with prosecutors in another case.

Blue is expected back in court in December.

Trenton man admits to manslaughter for 12 years

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 15:37:37 -0400

Talk about a downward departure.

The plea deal went from 25 years with cooperation for a man charged with murder to a dozen years – without any explanation from prosecutors.

Grady A. Blue III

Grady Blue III, 23, jumped at the plea deal Friday in Mercer County criminal court.

In doing so, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter for fatally shooting Naquan Ellis, 23, as he was stood with a group of people outside of the North 25 housing complex in June 2014.

A woman was also hit by gunfire but did not sustain serious injuries.

Blue, who also pleaded to an unrelated gun charge, admitted shooting “recklessly” into the crowd, but didn’t say why or who he was targeting.

His agreement calls for him to serve 12 years for killing Ellis and a concurrent 7-year term on the gun charge, which are expected to be imposed by Judge Thomas Brown at sentencing in November.

Prosecutors sweetened their offer to Blue, who had been floated a deal last year that called for him to serve 30 years for murder.

Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Petrucci also offered an alternative deal at that time that would have called for Blue to spend 25 years in prison if he cooperated with prosecutors in another case. Petrucci declined to go into detail about what case prosecutors wanted Blue’s help in.

It was not clear if his 12-year deal includes the same terms of cooperation.

Trenton murder suspect offered reduced sentence in exchange for help in another case

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:27:39 -0400

A city man accused of fatally shooting Naquan Ellis must decide whether cooperating with the state in an unrelated case is worth getting five years shaved off his sentence as part of a plea package presented by prosecutors Monday.

Grady A. Blue III

Grady Blue III, 22, was indicted in February on counts of murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in connection with the June 2014 death of 23-year-old Ellis, who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest after he was struck in a parking lot of the North 25 housing complex. A woman was also hit by gunfire but did not sustain serious injuries.

Under the terms of a plea agreement extended by prosecutors, Blue would be required to plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter and cooperate in another unspecified matter in exchange for a 25-year prison term.

The alternative calls for Blue to serve 30 years in state prison for murder, Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Petrucci said.

Both pleas would also require Blue to plead guilty to an unlawful possession of a weapon charge for a 10-year sentence, which would run concurrently, prosecutors said. Petrucci would not reveal which case prosecutors are seeking Blue’s help. He is being held on $1 million.

Trenton man indicted in connection with Naquan Ellis murder

Penny Ray — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:38:11 -0500

A city man has been indicted in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Naquan Ellis.

Grady A. Blue III

Grady A. Blue III, 22, was indicted last week on charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and related weapons offenses in connection with a June 2014 shooting that killed Ellis and injured a woman.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of the North 25 Housing complex. Ellis suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The female victim sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to her leg and hand.

The day following the shooting, members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Blue and charged him in connection with the shooting.

Blue is currently incarcerated at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility serving time for charges unrelated to Ellis’s murder. Blue’s bail remains at $1 million for the homicide.

Police identify Wednesday murder victim; arrest suspect in connection with Naquan Ellis slaying

Penny Ray — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:29:32 -0400

Police have identified a man who was found Wednesday shot and killed in an alley, and they also arrested a city man in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Naquan Ellis.

Around 7 a.m. Wednesday, police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds in an alley in the 400 block of Cuyler Avenue. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and he was identified Thursday as 23-year-old Juan Carlos Castillo, of Honduras.

Eight hours prior to finding Castillo’s body, police found Naquan Ellis lying in the parking lot of the North 25 Housing complex suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. They also found a female at that scene who sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the leg and hand. Both victims were then taken Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where Ellis was later pronounced dead.

Grady A. Blue III

Then, late Wednesday evening, police arrested Grady A. Blue III, and charged him with murder and weapons offenses in connection with Ellis’ death. Blue is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center on $1 million cash bail.

Police continue to search for suspects involved in Castillo’s murder. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406, or use the Trenton police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663. Tipsters may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tipline at (609) 278-8477. Those wishing to text a tip can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.