Naquan Green | Homicide Watch Trenton

Gunman who killed Taquan McNeil gets 5 years

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:58:25 -0400

Naquan Green

A self-confessed killer will serve only a few years behind bars for shooting and killing 25-year-old Taquan McNeil in 2015.

Naquan Green, 29, of Trenton, was sentenced to five years of incarceration last Friday. Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta imposed the sentence, which requires Green to serve 85 percent of the sentence in state prison before he can become eligible for parole, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Green shot McNeil three times during a botched drug deal Feb. 15, 2015, on the 100 block of Boudinot Street in Trenton. He was arrested March 4, 2015, and later indicted on counts charging him with murder and weapons offenses. But Green pleaded guilty to reduced charges on May 26 after agreeing to a plea bargain offered by the state — fessing up to second-degree manslaughter committed recklessly.

Taquan McNeil, 25, of Trenton (Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Photo)

A seasoned criminal, Green has multiple state and federal convictions, including for a 2005 drug offense as a juvenile. He was sentenced to three years in state prison in 2012 for a 2009 aggravated assault. The state had active drug charges and weapons offenses pending against Green but dismissed all of those counts as part of his plea bargain in the homicide case.

In addition to being sentenced to five years of incarceration, Green will also be subjected to three years of parole supervision after serving his time in state prison.

Trenton murder suspect charged with drug possession in jail

Isaac Avilucea — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:07:50 -0400

A convicted drug dealer accused in last month’s fatal shooting death of 25-year-old Taquan McNeil has been charged with an additional count of drug possession after prosecutors said he was found with drugs inside the county jail.

Naquan Green

Naquan Green, 26, allegedly shot McNeil three times during a botched drug deal Feb. 15 on the 100 block of Boudinot Street. Superior Court Judge Gerald Council did not impose bail on the new drug charges for Green, who is already being held in lieu of $1.1. million on the murder charge.

McNeil was found face-down in a snow bank and died a short time later after a bullet pierced both his lungs.

Ballistics from recovered shell casings matched an unknown caliber gun authorities found in a nearby alley, and witnesses said Green was with the victim minutes before the murder.

McNeil and Green had set up a drug deal after encountering each other at a city gas station.

Green was arrested March 4 at a Bellevue Avenue apartment in Trenton by members of the U.S. MarshalsNY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.

He was apprehended after a short pursuit in which he allegedly tossed a .357-caliber Ruger out of the fifth-floor window of the apartment. He was also charged with drug and gun possession after police found him with ecstasy.

Green has multiple state and federal convictions, including for a 2005 drug offense as a juvenile. He was sentenced to three years in state prison in 2012 for a 2009 aggravated assault.

$1.1 million bail maintained for Trenton murder suspect Naquan Green

Isaac Avilucea — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 11:26:15 -0400

A convicted ecstasy dealer fatally shot an acquaintance on a city street during a botched drug deal, and authorities aren’t sure of a motive, prosecutors said.

“Only two people know the reason,” Assistant Prosecutor Brian McCauley said. “One guy is dead and another is not talking.”

Naquan Green

McCauley was referring to Naquan Green, 26, a convicted drug dealer who was arrested and charged March 4 with the murder of 25-year-old Taquan McNeil. Superior Court Judge Timothy Lydon maintained Green’s bail at $1.1 million, citing the strength of the state’s case and the defendant’s potential as a flight risk.

McNeil was found face-down in a snow bank after being shot three times Feb. 15 on the 100 block of Boudinot Street, prosecutors said at a bail hearing Tuesday. One of the bullets pierced both of his lungs, McCauley said.
Ballistics from shell casings found under McNeil’s body matched an unknown caliber gun authorities found in a nearby alley, and witnesses said Green was with the victim minutes before the murder.

McNeil and some friends had encountered Green at a city gas station after attending a Rick Ross rap concert earlier in the night, McCauley said. McNeil wanted to buy drugs from the defendant so they traveled together in a dark colored SUV to Boudinot Street, near Green’s former residence.

McCauley said witnesses’ account of the night is corroborated by surveillance authorities stitched together from multiple businesses.

Once in Green’s old neighborhood, the two men got out together while others waited in the car. Witnesses saw two men walking together; shots rang out and a dark-colored SUV was seen leaving the scene.

Green’s attorney, Sam Goldberg, said there is no physical evidence linking his client to the murder and eyewitness testimony is often unreliable.

An arrest warrant was issued for Green, who evaded authorities for two weeks, McCauley said, before he was arrested March 4 at a Bellevue Avenue apartment in Trenton by members of the U.S. MarshalsNY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.

He was apprehended after a short pursuit in which he allegedly tossed a .357-caliber Ruger out of the fifth-floor window of the apartment. He was additionally charged for drug and gun possession after police found him with ecstasy, prosecutors said.

Green is a felon with several state and federal convictions, including for a 2005 drug offense as a juvenile. He was sentenced to three years in state prison in 2012 for a 2009 aggravated assault in which he used a bottle to strike someone, McCauley said.

Trenton man arrested in connection with Taquan McNeil murder

Penny Ray — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:15:12 -0500

A Trenton man was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with a murder that occurred last month.

Naquan Green

Naquan M. Green, 26, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday by members of the Fugitive Unit and the Counter Gang Intelligence Unit of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Prosecutors say Green was found inside an apartment on Bellevue Avenue. He is charged in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Taquan McNeil.

According to prosecutors in the case, around 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 15, police found McNeil lying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of Boudinot Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Mercer County Homicide Task Force developed enough evidence to charge Green with murder and weapons offenses in connection with McNeil’s death.

During the course of his apprehension Wednesday, prosecutors say, Green tossed a handgun out of a fifth-floor window. He faces additional charges for that offense.

Green is being held in jail on $1 million cash or bond.