Ivan Rodriguez | Homicide Watch Trenton

Trenton double murder suspect plotted to kill 'rat' codefendant

Isaac Avilucea — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:43:52 -0400

Kimberly Whitaker and Bobby Hood

Shaquille McNeil wanted “Chuck E Cheese” dead.

Chuck E Cheese wasn’t the mascot of the popular family fun center but a “rat” co-defendant he believed was going to testify against him in the double slaying of a Philadelphia rapper and his friend, according to newly obtained court documents.

Detectives outlined the alleged setup in criminal complaints for two of McNeil’s associates charged in the wild witness extermination plot.

Kimberly Whitaker, 23, McNeil’s girlfriend, and Bobby Hood, 26, both of Trenton, were charged last week with conspiracy to commit murder and witness tampering.

They’re accused of assisting McNeil, who is jailed at the Mercer County correction center awaiting trial, with his plan to take out co-defendant Tashawn Santiago.

McNeil thought Santiago was cooperating with cops and prosecutors in the double slaying of Jerard Perdomo and his 19-year-old friend, Ivan Rodriguez.

Whitaker’s and Hood’s arrests brought the number of people charged for having roles in the double slaying or attempting to snuff out potential witnesses to eight.

Authorities acknowledged Wednesday two more alleged accomplices, Yahonatan Salter and Timothy Lewis, have been charged in connection with the witness hit plot.

Others include Cecil Blake, 31, Lakeisha Hill, 29, Felicita Gee, 43, and Fantasia Gee, 24.

Blake is a convicted killer who survived being shot several times in April.

Top l to r: Lakeisha Hill, Shaquille McNeil, Tashawn Santiago
bottom l to r: Cecil Blake, Felicita Gee, Fantasia Gee
Photos provided by Mercer County Prosecutors Office

Perdomo-Santana, an aspiring rapper who had released his debut mixtape under the stage name Elmii Problema, and Rodriguez were gunned down inside a black Ford Taurus on Jan. 22, near Washington Street and Ashmore Avenue in the Chambersburg section of the city.

The two were allegedly waiting to hawk a pill to a Trenton resident, according to court documents.

The authorities believe McNeil, Blake and Santiago were in a black Chevy Impala that pulled up next to Perdomo-Santana and Rodriguez prior to the shooting.

The three suspects got out and at least one of them got into the back seat of the victims’ car and shot them dead before the Impala sped off while the suspects ditched a pair of handguns out the window.

McNeil was apparently upset Santiago is free while he was detained at the county jail awaiting trial.

Trenton Police Detective Scott Peterson wrote in probable cause affidavits that he subpoenaed McNeil’s phone records once he learned McNeil was contacting associates to map out Santiago’s murder.

The criminal complaints mentioned Salter and Lewis, who were identified as McNeil associates allegedly involved in the murder plot.

A county prosecutors spokesman said Salter and Lewis were arrested Oct. 12.

Salter was locked up by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office on an unrelated warrant when he was served with the latest charges.

Lewis, Salter and McNeil each faces conspiracy and witness tampering charges.

Timothy Lewis

Peterson said it became “clear” after listening to McNeil’s taped jailhouse phone calls with Whitaker, between Sept. 20 and Oct. 5, that he was attempting to set up a hit.

The detective conceded McNeil never used the words “kill” or “murder” during the conversations.

Instead, McNeil communicated in code and used street names and slang to talk to Whitaker and others, authorities said, referring to Santiago as “Chucky-Cheese” [sic], the detective wrote, indicating those who help law enforcement are called “rats.”

From there, Peterson deduced: “Hence the Chucky-Cheese expression.”

McNeil tried to slip his girlfriend, Whitaker, a coded message that was Santiago’s address, Peterson wrote.

McNeil explained to Whitaker the first number of the address was the first number of her phone pin code, followed by a four and a seven.

Detectives determined 147 was a coded message that matched up with the digits of Santiago’s address, according to the complaints.

On another call, Whitaker allegedly three-wayed with McNeil and Salter, also known as “Pound.”

During the Oct. 3 conversation, McNeill allegedly asked Salter for help taking out Santiago.

Salter told McNeil he was “going to get that done for you,” the detective wrote.

The same day, McNeil and Whitaker also talked to Hood, AKA “B-Hood,” the authorities said.

McNeil told Hood to “park up” near Santiago’s home and scope it out.

In yet another call the same day, McNeil instructed Lewis that Whitaker would get him Santiago’s address so Lewis could track Santiago down and kill him, according to the court documents.

Lewis allegedly told McNeil no one would recognize him because he had gotten a new “sh-t,” referring to his vehicle.

Six indicted Trenton double murder of Philadelphia rapper and friend

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 12:24:06 -0400

Top l to r: Lakeisha Hill, Shaquille McNeil, Tashawn Santiago
bottom l to r: Cecil Blake, Felicita Gee, Fantasia Gee
Photos provided by Mercer County Prosecutors Office

Six people were indicted for their alleged involvement in the double murder of an aspiring rapper and his friend that also injured a third person, authorities said.

Lakeisha Hill, 29, Shaquille McNeil, 24, Tashawn Santiago, 25, and Cecil Blake, 31, were each hit with charges of murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses.

Felicita Gee, 43, and Fantasia Gee, 24, were indicted on charges of hindering apprehension and giving false information to cops.

Hill and Santiago were indicted on the same charges, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said, as part of a 14-count indictment handed up by a grand jury this week.

The double murder of Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name is Jerard Perdomo-Santana, and his friend, 19-year-old Ivan Rodriguez, happened the afternoon of Jan. 22, near Washington Street and Ashmore Avenue.

Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, (left) and Ivan Rodriguez.

He and Rodriguez were found shot inside an idling black Ford Taurus riddled with bullets. Both men were taken to the hospital where they later died.

A 29-year-old man injured in the gunfire drove himself to the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder and the hand.

One of the murder suspects, Blake, survived being blasted five times in the chest April 6 on the 100 block of Monmouth Street.

Officials haven’t said whether there’s a link between Blake’s assassination attempt and his role in the double murder.

Blake has convictions for reckless manslaughter and gun-toting, court records show.

He pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Samuel Hardwick in 2007 in a plea deal with prosecutors that called for five years in prison and allowed codefendants James Deonte James and David Kennedy to walk.

Blake was also nabbed by cops in March on a number of drug charges for allegedly dealing cocaine. He was found with 105 grams of cocaine and $257 in cash, cops said.

On Jan. 12, Perdomo-Santana, who released his debut mixtape Maxima Seguridad last year, posted a Facebook live video of him and Rodriguez driving around in a car together, listening to music.

He posted a similar video on the morning he died.

Fourth person arrested in Trenton double murder

Trentonian Staff — Wed, 09 May 2018 14:29:48 -0400

Lakeisha Hill

A fourth person has been charged in connection with a double murder that happened earlier this year.

Lakeisha Hill, 29, of Philadelphia, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at a friend’s house in Trenton. She is accused of being an accomplice in the murders of Jerard Perdomo-Santana and Ivan Rodriguez, as well as the attempted murder of a 29-year-old city man.

Perdomo-Santana, a Philadelphia rapper also known as Elmii Probema, and Rodriguez were shot and killed on the afternoon of January 22 in the 300 block of Washington Street. A third victim suffered gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hand before driving himself to the hospital.

Police have not disclosed a motive for the killings, but one of Perdomo-Santana’s friends has claimed the rapper was a victim of a robbery.

City men Cecil Blake, Shaquille McNeill, and Tashawn Santiago were previously arrested in connection with the murders.

Shaquille McNeil (left) and Cecil Blake

Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, (left) and Ivan Rodriguez.

Man shot last month in Trenton charged with murder

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 04 May 2018 15:30:42 -0400

Shaquille McNeil (left) and Cecil Blake

One of the three city men charged in the grisly broad daylight double murder of an aspiring rapper and his friend survived being blasted five times in the chest in another daylight shooting last month, sources confirmed to The Trentonian.

Cecil Blake, 31, was nearly shot to death April 6 on the 100 block of Monmouth Street. He was whisked into emergency surgery and lived only to be hit with double murder charges in the slayings of Philadelphia rapper Elmii Probema, whose real name is Jerard Perdomo-Santana, and his friend, 19-year-old Ivan Rodriguez.

Perdomo-Santana, who last year released his debut mixtape Maxima Seguridad, was found with his friend inside an idling black Ford Taurus riddled with bullets. Both men were taken to the hospital where they later dead.

Blake was arrested with alleged accomplices Shaquille McNeill, 24, and Tashawn Santiago, 25. Each are charged with murder and weapons offenses, authorities announced Friday.

One of Perdomo-Santana’s friends has claimed the rapper was a victim of a robbery, but the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office wouldn’t detail the motivation behind the killing or go into each man’s alleged role in snuffing out the Philadelphia men on Jan. 22

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation said that McNeil is the alleged triggerman and shot-caller Blake was the one who allegedly ordered the killing. Santiago’s alleged involvement is not clear.

The trio is also charged with attempted murder for almost killing a third 29-year-old man who survived being shot in the shoulder and the hand in the brazen double assassination on the 300 block of Washington Street. The man drove himself to the hospital.

Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, (left) and Ivan Rodriguez (right) were both murdered in Trenton in a double slaying. This still image comes from a Facebook video of the two men driving around and listening to music on Jan. 12.

On Jan. 12, Perdomo-Santana, who called himself a Dominican Latin rap artist, posted a Facebook live video of him and Rodriguez driving around in a car together, listening to music. He posted a similar video on the morning he died.

McNeil was picked up Wednesday by the members of the county homicide task force and U.S. Marshals at a friend’s Trenton home. Santiago was already in county lockup on unrelated charges when he was served with charges in the double murder

Prosecutors said Blake is “in the custody” of the county corrections department. It’s unclear if Blake is in jail or still recuperating at a hospital after his brush with death last month. Blake was initially in grave condition after being shot multiple times in the chest April 6, near the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Monmouth Street.

Officials haven’t said whether there’s a link between Blake’s assassination attempt and his role in the double murder.

Blake has convictions for reckless manslaughter and gun-toting, court records show. He pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Samuel Hardwick in 2007 in a plea deal with prosecutors that called for five years in prison and allowed codefendants James Deonte James and David Kennedy to walk.

One of the key witnesses in the murder case who led police to a stash house full of guns developed dementia and was placed in an assisted-living home, a big setback that weakened prosecutors’case.

Blake was also nabbed by cops in March on a number of drug charges for allegedly dealing cocaine. He was found with 105 grams of cocaine and $257 in cash, cops said.

Man murdered in Trenton double slaying was aspiring rapper

David Foster — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 18:54:02 -0500

Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, (left) and Ivan Rodriguez (right) were both murdered in Trenton on Monday in a double slaying. This still image comes from a Facebook video of the two men driving around and listening to music on Jan. 12.

A man murdered this week in a capital city double slaying was an up-and-coming rapper.

Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, had just released his debut mixtape, Maxima Seguridad, last year.

Tragically, Perdomo-Santana, 25, and his friend, 19-year Ivan Rodriguez, both of Philadelphia, were gunned down Monday afternoon while in a car near the intersection of Ashmore Avenue and Washington Street.

“Tremendous composer, tremendous artist, a young man of just 25 years old with so much talent and so much life ahead,” one of his friends in the music industry wrote on social media. “He could have achieved fame and riches. But as many as he did not resist the temptation of the street ... death is one of the great possibilities”

Possibly foreshadowing his own death, a day before he died, Perdomo-Santana posted a picture of himself on Facebook and wrote in Spanish, “I have a simple question for God. Do you believe that when I die I still use my canenas in heaven.” Cananas, the closest derivative of the word, is a Spanish term that means gun belt.

Philadelphia rapper Elmii Problema, whose real name was Jerard Perdomo-Santana, was murdered in Trenton on Monday in a double slaying.

A third man was also struck by gunfire during Monday’s shooting. He drove a separate vehicle to the hospital, where he was later questioned by detectives.

One of Perdomo-Santana’s friends claims the rapper was a victim of a robbery.

The authorities would not confirm this information.

Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said Monday in an email that there were no updates in the case and no arrests have been made.

So far this year, three people have been murdered in the capital city.

Aspiring rappers in the Trenton region have been victims of violent crime in recent years.

Devon Green, 23, whose rapper name was Savy G, was shot and killed in the carport of his Lanning Street home in Ewing on Oct. 19. Four men were arrested for the murder.

Trenton rapper Young Farr, 26, was gunned down on Middle Rose Street in August 2013 in the capital city. Wayne Bush received a 7-year prison sentence for the death of the rapper, whose name was Jafar Lewis, in December.

Second Monday murder victim identified

Trentonian Staff — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:19:01 -0500

One of the victims in a January 22 shooting drove this vehicle to the hospital after fleeing the scene. (L.A. Parker - Trentonian)

The second man who was killed Monday afternoon has been identified as 19-year-old Ivan Rodriguez, of Philadelphia.

Rodriguez and 25-year-old Jerard Perdomo-Santana, who was identified Tuesday, were in a car near the intersection of Ashmore Avenue and Washington Street around 2:30 p.m. when gunfire rang out. Both of them were later pronounced dead at the hospital.

A third victim who survived the shooting drove a separate vehicle to the hospital, where he was later questioned by detectives.

Ivan Rodriguez (Facebook photo)

A witness previously told The Trentonian she barely escaped being shot after finding herself caught in the crossfire on the way home from the grocery store. She said she saw at least one shooter drop a weapon out of a car window before fleeing the scene. The woman said she didn’t get a good look at the suspect because she was busy taking cover.

“They shot towards me,” the woman whose first name is Vivian said. “I don’t know if they were just shootin’ for the hell of it. Next thing you know, they threw the gun out. I was scared.”

Law enforcement sources say an alert broadcast immediately after the shooting advised assisting police units to be on the lookout for a green car believed to be the suspect's vehicle. That car later arrived at the hospital occupied by the surviving gunshot victim.

Investigators say it’s too early to say what motivated the shooting, but detectives found two guns that were dumped at the scene during the aftermath.

So far this year, three people have been murdered in the capital city.

Trentonian staff writers Penny Ray and Isaac Avilucea contributed to this report.

Police investigate a murder in the Chambersburg section of Trenton Monday. (L.A. Parker - The Trentonian.)