Raheim Hayes | Homicide Watch Trenton

Murder suspect who thought he was being chased by martians indicted

Brian Dzenis — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:38:52 -0400

An accused murderer, who thought he was being chased by aliens, was hit with a 14-count indictment for robbing and killing one man and attempting to kill another.

Jack Isabell’s charges include three counts of first degree murder, felony murder and attempted murder on top of all the robbery, weapons and drugs charges he got during after the authorities’ investigation into his alleged crimes. He also has a murder charge that makes the 41-year-old eligible for a mandatory sentence of life without parole. That specific charge was created when the death penalty was abolished in 2007, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office.

Since his arrest in April, he has undergone a court-ordered mental health evaluation.

“I think Mr. Isabell is a very dangerous individual and obviously he has some mental issues,” Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Korngut said during a September court hearing. “When he was arrested, he said something about the Martians were coming after him or something to that effect.”

On April 7 of this year, Hayes was allegedly involved in two separate shootings. The first one was the alleged robbery and murder of 34-year-old city resident Raheim Hayes. Isabell allegedly robbed Hayes inside his brother’s house and shot him in the head. He took two black bags containing crack cocaine, a digital scale, two black jackets and a handgun. Shortly after, the second shooting that night left a 22-year-old man wounded on the corner of Smith and Beatty streets. The victim was shot while walking to buy in milk. Prosecutors said Isabell had “no apparent reason” for the shooting. Hayes’ body was discovered two days later by a woman in the home.

Police arrested Isabell in a park two hours after the second shooting and was found allegedly with Hayes’ blood splattered on his clothes.

Isabell remains behind bars on $1.25 million bail.

Murder suspect believed martians were out to get him, judge orders mental health evaluation

Penny Ray — Tue, 27 May 2014 15:07:39 -0400

A judge ordered a mental status evaluation Tuesday for Jack Isabell, who is accused of shooting and killing 34-year-old Raheim Hayes.

"I think Mr. Isabell is a very dangerous individual and obviously he has some mental issues,” Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Korngut said. “When he was arrested, he said something about the martians were coming after him or something to that effect.”

On April 9, a woman found Hayes inside a home on Smith Street suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that the home where Hayes was found is owned by Isabell’s brother, and that Isabell had been living in that residence “off and on” during the few months prior to his arrest. Prosecutors also said they believe Isabell shot Hayes while inside that home two days prior to Hayes’ body being found.

According to prosecutors in the case, Isabell was involved in two separate shootings on April 7: one that injured a 22-year-old male near the corner of Beatty and Smith streets, and the death of Raheim Hayes.

Prosecutors believe Isabell shot Hayes early that Monday morning during the course of a robbery that occurred inside Isabell’s brother’s home in the 200 block of Smith Street. Then later that day, Isabell allegedly shot another man; and the gun found at that crime scene matched evidence found inside Isabell’s brother’s home, according to prosecutors.

“The gun was later tested and it matched the shell casings found inside the Smith Street home linking Isabell to the homicide,” Korngut said.

Around 11 a.m. on April 7, police found a 22-year-old victim near the corner of Beatty and Smith streets suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso and right wrist. Prosecutors believe the victim was walking to the store to purchase milk, and that Isabell shot him for no apparent reason. Prosecutors say two black bags containing crack cocaine and a digital scale, two black jackets and a .380 caliber handgun were left at the scene, and that the gun matched the shell casings found inside the Smith Street home. Prosecutors also say there was property in those bags that belonged to Hayes.

“We believe those bags were taken from Mr. Hayes after Mr. Isabell killed him, and that Isabell dropped them at the scene of the second shooting," Korngut said.

About two hours after the second shooting, police arrested Isabell after finding him shirtless in a city park located a few blocks away from the scene. Prosecutors say Isabell had injuries on both of his hands that were consistent with being in a physical altercation. He also had blood splatter on his pants and shoes, and that blood matched Hayes’ DNA, according to prosecutors.

At Tuesday’s bail hearing, attorneys on both sides of the case expressed concern about Isabell’s mental health.

“We have no opposition regarding the bail,” defense attorney Edward Belmont said. “We're more interested in learning more about his mental health status."

Isabell, 41, is charged with criminal attempt homicide, weapons offenses, cocaine possession, and related drug distribution offenses in connection with the second shooting that occurred April 7. He is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and several weapons offenses in connection with Hayes’ death.

Isabell remains held on $250,000 cash bail in connection with the shooting of the 22-year-old. His bail in connection with murder is set at $1 million cash or bond.

Prosecutors charge Jack Isabell with murder of Raheim Hayes

Penny Ray — Thu, 22 May 2014 18:18:33 -0400

A city man who has been in custody in connection with an April shooting that left one victim injured was charged last week with the murder of 34-year-old Raheim Hayes.

Jack Isabell, 41, is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and several weapons offenses in connection with Hayes’ death.

Isabell was initially arrested April 7, after police found a 22-year-old victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso and right wrist near the corner of Beatty and Smith streets. That victim survived his injuries, but reliable sources who know the victim told The Trentonian back in April that another man was also shot by Isabell that Monday.

Two days later, a woman found Hayes dead inside a house on Smith Street that is listed as Isabell’s address on court documents. And sources told The Trentonian that Hayes was one of the men who was shot April 7 near the corner of Smith and Beatty streets, and that he ran into that house after the shooting.

According to court documents, Isabell allegedly shot Hayes in the head during the course of a robbery that occurred April 7—two days before Hayes’ body was discovered.

At the time of Isabell’s arrest, police said they had found a couple black bags containing a large amount of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a .380 caliber handgun near the scene.

Then, about two hours after the shooting, police found Isabell shirtless in a city park located a few blocks away from where the shooting occurred.

Isabell was initially charged with criminal attempt homicide and weapons and drug offenses in connection with the shooting of the 22-year-old. And on May 14, he was charged in connection with Hayes’ death while being held in the Mercer County Correction Center.

Bail for the initial charges was set at $250,000 cash. And his bail for the murder charge was set at $1 million cash. Isabell is scheduled next week for a bail hearing in connection with the murder charge.

Jack Isabell Arrest Documents (PDF)Jack Isabell Arrest Documents (Text)

Two men shot and killed this week brings 2014 murder toll to nine

Penny Ray — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 21:32:58 -0400

Two people were killed in the city this week, bringing the 2014 murder toll to nine.

“Right now, we do not have control of the city and it bothers me,” Mayor George Muschal said Thursday evening. “We cannot tolerate people hanging out on these street corners. We need zero tolerance, and we need more police manpower, which the (Police) Director and I are working on.”

Raheim Hayes

Raheim Hayes, 34, of Browns Mills, was found inside a Smith Street home Wednesday afternoon suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman found Hayes dead inside the house around noon and then called police. Sources told The Trentonian that Hayes was one of the men who was shot Monday near the corner of Smith and Beatty Street, and that he ran into the house after the shooting. At this time, police are unable to confirm the time of Hayes’ death and whether he was a victim of Monday’s shooting. But a spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office said that law enforcement is “investigating the connection between Monday’s shooting and Hayes’ murder.”

Jack Isabell, 41, was arrested shortly after Monday’s shooting and charged with criminal attempt homicide in connection with non-fatal gunshot wounds sustained by a 22-year-old victim. But at this time, no one has been charged in connection with Hayes’ death.

Cagney Roberts

Around 9 p.m. Wednesday, police found three other males shot near the corner of Girard and St. Joes Avenue. Cagney Roberts, 19, of Trenton, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the hospital. And the other two victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds: one male was shot in the back, and the other was shot in the calf, according to police.

Sources told The Trentonian that the suspected gunman of Wednesday’s shooting rode by on a dirt bike and started firing at a crowd of people, but police would not confirm that detail. At this time, though, police do not have a description of Wednesday’s shooter.

More than 75 people gathered outside the hospital Wednesday evening, and Duncan W. Harrison Jr., a city council candidate, was among the crowd.

“Any time you hear about senseless violence and children getting shot, it’s a problem,” Harrison said. “This has been a problem for over three years. This isn’t the time for any one of us to play politics. We must come together as a community.”

The shootings remain under investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force. Anyone with information is asked to call (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 regarding the killing or any of the other crimes can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.

— Shaheed Morris contributed reporting

Man found shot and killed Wednesday inside a Smith Street home

Penny Ray — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:54:16 -0400

A man was found shot and killed inside a Smith Street home Wednesday afternoon, and police are working to confirm the victim’s identity.

According to law enforcement, around noon Wednesday, a man was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a home in the 200 block of Smith Street. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sources say a woman found the man dead inside the house and then called police. Sources also say the man may have been shot outside the home and then forced his way into the property where he eventually died.

The home where the man was found Wednesday is located a few houses away from where a shooting took place Monday morning. But police were unable to confirm whether the two incidents are connected.

The homicide remains under investigation, and police are working to confirm the victim’s identity.