Tomarkus L. Whitfield | Homicide Watch Trenton

2 Trenton men get hit with prison sentences in connection with murder cases

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:42:56 -0500

Marquis Skillman

Two Trenton men charged in separate murder cases will serve hard time behind bars.

Marquis Skillman, 30, received an 11-year prison sentence last week for his role in the 2013 shooting death of Rayshawn Ransom while Tomarkus Whitfield, 39, received a sentence of 19 years and six months in the slammer for killing Pinkey Priester in 2014.

Under Skillman’s plea deal, he admitted guilt to robbery and a weapons offense in exchange for prosecutors dismissing murder charges against him. Skillman was one of the three men charged in connection with the slaying of Ransom, 19, on June 12, 2013, in the city of Trenton.

The other defendants in the case were Alton Jones, 25, who pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and Dyquise Leonard, also 25, who has pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Prosecutors say Jones is the defendant who fired the shot that killed Ransom.

Skillman, who was represented by private attorney Michael Kuhns, must serve nine years and four months in state prison before he is eligible for parole.

Tomarkus Whitfield

Whitfield pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, extreme indifference to human life, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing his murder charges and weapons offenses. He shot and killed 33-year-old Priester in Trenton on June 16, 2014. The self-confessed killer was represented by pool attorney Ronald Garzio in the criminal proceedings that ended with Whitfield receiving nearly 20 years of imprisonment.

Trenton man admits to 2014 slaying in plea deal

Isaac Avilucea — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 12:35:17 -0500

A city man who appeared headed for trial has accepted a plea deal that will send him to prison for nearly two decades for killing another city man in 2014.

Tomarkus Whitfield

Tomarkus Whitfield, 38, recently accepted a plea deal that will send him to prison for 19 and a half years for killing Pinkey Priester in June 2014.

Whitfield pumped more than 10 rounds into the 30-year-old Priester on June 16, 2014, on the 300 block of Centre Street. The men had a longstanding financial dispute that turned violent that day.

Arrested by U.S. Marshals and charged with murder and weapons offenses, Whitfield admitted to a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter under a negotiated plea with prosecutors, a spokeswoman said in a statement.

He is being sentenced in February, when a judge is expected to impose the plea deal that requires Whitfield to serve roughly 16 and a half years before he’s eligible for parole under the state’s No Early Release Act targeting violent offenders.

Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian handled the case, which appeared poised for trial earlier this year.

In March, defense attorney Ron Garzio asked a judge for more time to review police reports and other documents handed over in discovery. The judge granted his request and later set the case down for plea cutoff.

Whitfield is behind bars on a $750,000 cash bail.

Prosecutors, Trenton suspected killer at impasse in negotiations

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 12:56:30 -0400

Tomarkus Whitfield

A Trenton man accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old Pinkey Priester appears headed for trial.

Tomarkus Whitfield, 37, has pleaded not guilty and so far rejected prosecutors’ offer to serve 25 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter. He is charged with counts of murder and weapons offenses after authorities said he pumped more than 10 rounds into Prieseter on June 16, 2014, on the 300 block of Centre Street.

Authorities said the men had a longstanding financial dispute.

Assistant Prosecutor Will Fisher asked a judge Monday at a status hearing to bring the case back for one more status hearing before scheduling the matter for plea cutoff. He said the case is being handed off to Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian in late spring.

Fisher has handled the case in Gasparian’s stead.

Defense attorney Ron Garzio asked a judge for time to review police reports and other documents handed over in discovery. He also needed to determine whether to conduct an investigation or file additional motions based off the materials handed over.

Whitfield was arrested by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Detective Gary Wasko and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force on Division Street. He has an extensive criminal history and is jailed on a $750,000 cash-only bail.

Whitfield is expected back in court in April.

Murder suspect enters not guilty plea in Trenton shooting death

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 14:13:03 -0400

A Trenton man accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old Pinkey Priester entered a not guilty plea at an arraignment Monday.

Tomarkus Whitfield

Tomarkus Whitfield, 36, was indicted in December on counts of murder and weapons offenses after authorities said he pumped more than 10 rounds into Prieseter.

Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian said at a bail hearing she spoke with the victim’s family but needs more time to speak with the lead detective in the case before presenting Whitfield with a plea offer.

Authorities said Whitfield fired at Priester during a longstanding financial dispute. Priester was found lying in the street in a pool of blood on the 300 block of Centre Street on June 16 and later died at a local hospital.

Whitfield was arrested by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Detective Gary Wasko and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force on Division Street.

Whitfield has an extensive criminal history, remains jailed in lieu of $750,000 cash bail, prosecutors said.

Tomarkus Whitfield indicted in Pinkey Priester slaying

Scott Ketterer — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 13:00:28 -0500

The man accused of killing 33-year-old Pinkey Priester was indicted on December 19, the Mercer County Prosecutor's office said Tuesday.

A grand jury indicted Tomarkus Whitfield, 36, of Trenton on one count of murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun and one count of second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm.

Tomarkus Whitfield

According to reports, police responded to a shooting in progress in the 300 block of Centre Street on June 16. When they arrived they found Priester lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. He later died after being taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

It was alleged in a previous report that Whitfield stood over Priester and fired several shots (in excess of 10) while he lay on the ground after what was reportedly a financial dispute between the pair. Whitfield was arrested on June 24 by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Detective Gary Wasko and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force on Division Street.

At a July bail hearing, Whitfield's public defender asked for a reduced bail, saying authorities have “no gun, no physical evidence."

Despite the public defender's request, Whitfield remains in the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of $750,000 cash bail.

According to the July report, Robert Billmeier weighed Whitfield's prior criminal history of weapons offenses in upholding the bail amount.

Bail amount upheld for Trenton man accused of killing Pinkey Priester

Paul Mickle — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 12:50:44 -0400

A judge kept the bail at $750,000 cash Wednesday for the ex-con charged with shooting ten bullets into Pinkey Priester in the middle of Centre Street on the night of June 15.

Murder suspect Tomarkus Whitfield, 36, appeared on jailhouse video before Mercer Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier, who made his call after hearing the accusations and about the suspect’s history of weapons offenses.

“This was not a case of ‘one shot, wrong place.’ He continued to shoot (the victim) until he fell to the ground," Assistant Mercer Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian told the judge.

It happened at 10 that Sunday night in the 300 block of Centre Street, Gasparian said, and was the culmination of a “financial dispute" between Priester, 33, and suspect Whitfield, who has children ages 20, 13 and 5.

The prosecutor said “in excess of 10 shots" were fired that night, some of them as Whitfield allegedly stood over the downed victim and fired.

Whitfield’s lawyer, Mercer Assistant Public Defender John Maloney, asked for a reduced bail, saying authorities have “no gun, no physical evidence. The state says they had some kind of dispute. OK, so what?"

Gasparian said the fatal gunning occurred before several witnesses out on the street that night. She also noted to the judge that Whitfield’s career-criminal highlights include a prior conviction for carrying a gun while a convicted felon.

Man arrested in connection with Pinkey Priester murder

Penny Ray — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 15:19:30 -0400

A city man was arrested Tuesday evening in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Pinkey Priester.

Around 10 p.m. on June 16, police were dispatched to the 300 block of Centre Street where they found Priester lying in the middle of the road suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Priester was then taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and later pronounced dead.

Sources told The Trentonian that Priester had been in a fist fight shortly before he was shot and killed, but police have not confirmed that detail. Sources also say that the person who killed Priester stood over his body and fired several shots as he laid on the ground.

Tomarkus Whitfield

Around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Tomarkus L. Whitfield, 36, was arrested on Division Street by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Detective Gary Wasko and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Whitfield is charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to possess a weapon in connection with Priester’s death. He is being held on $750,000 cash bail.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information 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.