Naquan Ellis | 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.

Arrest made in Halloween Homicide, alleged killer found hiding under pile of clothes

Scott Ketterer — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 18:43:04 -0500

Authorities announced on Friday evening that police arrested Donte Jones, 23, of Trenton in connection with the murder of Levonza G. Thompson, 36, of Philadelphia.

According to the Mercer County Prosecutor's office, the 23 year-old was discovered hiding under a pile of clothes in the third floor attic of a home in the first block of Laurel Place.

Thompson was gunned down in the 200 block of Coolidge Avenue around 11:05 p.m. on Halloween. He was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later, the prosecutor's office said in the release.

The prosecutor’s office said witnesses reported Thompson had been involved in a struggle in the Oakland Park Apartments courtyard area when Jones allegedly pulled a handgun and fired multiple shots.

Jones was arrested Friday morning by members of the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force in a home on the first block of Laurel Place. He is facing murder and weapons charges and his bail has been set at $1 million cash only.

Thompson was the uncle of 23-year-old Naquan Ellis who was shot in June at the North 25 Housing Complex off of Calhoun Street. Ellis died at the hospital.

Jones’ arrest comes just one day after authorities charged Randy Kareem Washington, 33, in connection with the murders of 43-year-old George Jamison and 64-year-old Silas Johnson. He is also charged in connection with five armed robberies that occurred in Trenton between July and October.

Thompson was one of five people slain in a 10-day period, two of those occurring in less than 24-hours. Quran Brittingham was found dead on Monday, and hours later police responded to the 1000 block of South Broad Street to find Rodney Burke, 48, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Burke later died at St. Francis Medical Center.

Those homicides remain under investigation.

Authorities investigating Halloween homicide in city's West Ward

Scott Ketterer — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 10:10:40 -0400

A Philadelphia man is dead after being shot near the Oakland Park Apartments Housing Complex on Coolidge Avenue around 11 p.m. on Friday, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office confirmed.

According to scanner reports, police arrived on the scene to find a man unresponsive after he had been shot. The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, according to prosecutors investigating the case.

The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Levonza G. Thompson of Philadelphia.

(Left) Naquan Ellis and (Right) Levonza Thompson (Facebook photo)

Thompson is the uncle of Naquan Ellis, according to Ellis' obituary. In June, Ellis, 23, was shot in the chest at the North 25 Housing Complex off of Calhoun Street and later succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

A photo posted by Thompson to his own Facebook page shows he and Ellis together with the caption "[r]est peacefully nephew."

On the evening of Naquan's death, police arrested Grady A. Blue III and charged him with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the slaying. Blue is being held on $1 million cash bail.

So far, there is no suspect information available in regards to Levonza's death, and the circumstances that preceded the murder are not immediately known.

Levonza Thompson (Facebook photo)

Thompson's death is the third reported homicide this week after Iyeesha Kia Thomas was found shot to death in Blaine Alley and Silas Johnson, a Burlington man, was gunned down Wednesday morning near Market Street and the Route 1 overpass.

No arrests have been reported in either incident.

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.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Grady Blue III is no longer in Mercer County Correction Center. He is now serving time in state prison for charges unrelated to the death of Naquan Ellis.

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.

Two people shot and killed within an 8-hour span

Penny Ray — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:13:50 -0400

Police are investigating two homicides that occurred within an eight-hour span.

According to law enforcement, around 11 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the North 25 Housing Complex off of Calhoun Street to investigate a shooting in progress. Upon arrival, officers found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. A female was struck in the leg and hand during that shooting, and a man was found in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Both victims were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, and police say the female is in stable condition. The male victim died at the hospital, though, and he has been identified as 23-year-old Naquan Ellis.

Firefighters clean the scene of a murder that occurred in an alley in the 400 block of Cuyler Avenue - July, 25, 2014. (Trentonian photo/Penny Ray).

Police found a second homicide victim around 7 a.m. Wednesday in an alley in the 400 block of Cuyler Avenue. That victim’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.

These killings brings this year’s murder toll to 19. And the months of April and June have been the deadliest thus far, with five victims killed in each of those months.

Anyone with information about either murder 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.