3 men indicted in Trenton North 25 murder of Wilma Rutledge

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 16:51:10 -0500

(From left) Zion Williams, Rahein McInnis and Togbah Kpehe

Three city men have been indicted on murder charges in connection with the October 2017 North 25 housing complex shooting that killed a city woman and injured a 14-year-old girl.

Zion Williams, 19; Rahein McInnis, 32; and Togbah Kpehe, 24, have each been indicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree attempted murder, one count of second-degree aggravated assault and numerous weapons offenses on allegations they participated in the afternoon shooting that killed 58-year-old Wilma Rutledge and wounded the teenage victim.

Meanwhile, two juveniles arrested in the case could potentially be charged as adults. The juvenile defendants were both 16 at the time of their arrests last October. Motions to waive them up to adult criminal court are pending, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

A grand jury last Friday handed up the 14-count indictment that named Williams, McInnis and Kpehe as defendants, according to court records. McInnis and Togbah are convicted felons who have each previously pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges. As such, last week’s indictment also charged McInnis and Togbah with one count of certain persons not to possess a firearm.

The fatal North 25 shooting incident occurred about 3:10 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2017, at the intersection of Carver Lane and North Willow Street in Trenton. Both gunshot victims were transported to the hospital by private means. Rutledge, a local grandmother, was pronounced dead at the hospital while the teenager sustained non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Wilma Rutledge (Facebook Photo)

Police arrested Williams and both juvenile defendants on or about Oct. 20, 2017. Williams is represented by private defense attorney Robin Lord. Prosecutors say Williams and both juveniles were armed to the teeth when Kpehe dropped them off near the North 25 housing complex on the date of the murder.

Kpehe is represented by private defense attorney Andrew Ferencevych and has been in custody since his arrest on Nov. 6, 2017. McInnis is represented by private defense attorney Mark Fury and has been in custody since his Oct. 25 arrest.

The three adult defendants in the case remain incarcerated without bail on pretrial detention.

Fourth arrest made in North 25 Housing murder

Isaac Avilucea — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:57:13 -0400

A fourth man was arrested and charged in a double shooting that left one woman dead and injured a teenager outside the North 25 Housing complex this month.

Rahein McInnis, 32, of Trenton, was arrested in a vehicle on Country Lane in Ewing around 9 p.m. Wednesday night by members of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the U.S. Marshals.

He is charged with murder and related offenses along with 18-year-old Zion Williams and two 16-year-old teens whom prosecutors have not identified because they are underage.

Williams is also charged with child endangerment, and prosecutors have filed a motion to have him detained pending trial.

The four suspects were allegedly involved in the Oct. 6 broad daylight double shooting at the intersection of Carver Lane and North Willow Street that left 58-year-old Wilma Rutledge dead and injured a 14-year-old girl, a student at the 9th Grade Academy in Trenton.

Wilma Rutledge (Facebook Photo)

Rutledge was shot in the neck and the teenager was hit by bullets in the stomach and arm, sources said, adding that they were innocent bystanders. The victims were taken to the hospital where Rutledge succumbed to her injuries.

An investigation led by detectives Scott Peterson and Nancy Diaz culminated in the arrests of the criminal quartet. Both 16-year-olds were taken into custody without incident. Prosecutors have not specified their alleged roles in the homicide.

Rutledge was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and lived in Trenton for more than five decades, according to her obituary.

She graduated from Trenton Central High School and the Wilford Beauty Academy. Rutledge, who worked at the Coca-Cola Factory in Hightstown, is survived by three sons.

Rahein McInnis | Homicide Watch Trenton

3 men indicted in Trenton North 25 murder of Wilma Rutledge

Fourth arrest made in North 25 Housing murder