Robert Powell Jr | Homicide Watch Trenton

Sheriff’s officer ‘justified’ in Centre St. gunfight against alleged killer Tyleeb Reese

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 17:50:21 -0400

The sheriff’s officer who engaged Tyleeb Reese in a gunfight during the deadly 35-hour standoff in South Trenton five months ago was justified in firing his service weapon and will not be charged, according to newly released findings by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Reese, 35, of Trenton, is accused of shooting and killing a civilian passer-by during the early hours of the standoff and firing multiple shotgun blasts at law-enforcement officers, injuring three of them.

Tyleeb Reese

Authorities say Reese initiated the gunfight about 6:30 a.m. May 10 by firing two shotgun blasts at members of a regional U.S. Marshals fugitive task force. The officers were attempting to apprehend Reese on a fugitive arrest warrant because he had failed to register as a convicted sex offender.

As the officers entered Reese’s Centre Street residence and were advancing up the stairs to the second floor, Reese’s initial shotgun blasts struck the ballistic shield that was being held by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Officer identified as Officer 1, authorities said Friday. The force knocked three of the officers down the stairs and Officer 1 landed on the floor with the shield on top of him.

After hearing a third shotgun blast and seeing a cloud of plaster and dust, Officer 1 fired his Glock .40 caliber service handgun at least twice toward Reese, according to the state AG’s Office, which said no round hit Reese or anyone else.

Reese throughout the day and night fired additional shots at the officers and fired the kill shots that struck homicide victim Robert Powell Jr. in the torso, thigh and ankle, authorities said. Powell, 56, of Lamberton Street, was a loving grandfather. An autopsy determined that one of the fatal shots lacerated Powell’s lung and heart and that another shot hit an artery and shattered his thigh bone, according to information the Attorney General’s Office released on Friday.

Robert Powell Jr. (right)

The standoff ended about 5 p.m. May 11 with Reese surrendering peacefully. A judge eventually ordered Reese to be held without bail on pretrial detention and he has since been indicted on 18 counts, including one count of first-degree murder and seven counts of first-degree attempted murder.

The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team investigated the deadly incident and determined that Officer 1 was the only officer who discharged a gun during the incident. The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice further determined the officer’s use of force was justified under the law, so the state never pursued grand jury charges against the officer, authorities announced on Friday.

Elie Honig of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice “concluded that the officer who fired on Reese used an acceptable level of force,” the AG’s Office said Friday in a press release. “The facts and circumstances reasonably led the officer to believe his actions were immediately necessary to protect himself and his fellow officers. An officer may use deadly force in New Jersey when the officer reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another person from imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.”

The three officers injured during the standoff received treatment at Capital Health Regional Medical Center for graze wounds and contusions.

The newly released findings by the state Attorney General’s Office confirms much of the previously reported details about the deadly incident while revealing new details on some of the alleged actions Reese took while he was barricading himself inside his house on the 300 block of Centre Street.

“After Reese knocked a hole in an upstairs party wall between his townhome and the adjacent home, two state troopers were deployed to insert a camera and robot into Reese’s home,” the AG’s Office said Friday. “They were in a second-floor bathroom of the adjacent home, carrying ballistic shields, when Reese allegedly fired two shotgun blasts through the bathroom door, striking the shield of one of the troopers. The troopers were not injured and withdrew.”

Law enforcement officers at the scene of a standoff on Centre Street in Trenton that ended Thursday, May 11, 2017, after 35 hours with suspect Tyleeb Reese surrendering. (John Berry - The Trentonian)

Reese faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted on first-degree murder.

Alleged killer Tyleeb Reese gets indicted in connection with deadly 35-hour standoff

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:45:47 -0400

Alleged killer Tyleeb Reese, who commanded international attention earlier this year during a 35-hour deadly standoff with police, has been indicted on heavy criminal charges.

Tyleeb Reese

A Mercer County grand jury on Wednesday handed up an 18-count indictment charging Reese with a variety of offenses ranging from murder to resisting arrest, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Reese, 35, of Trenton, is accused of shooting and killing a civilian, 56-year-old Robert Powell Jr., during the early hours of the standoff on May 10. The standoff ended about 5 p.m. May 11 with Reese surrendering peacefully. A judge eventually ordered Reese to be held without bail on pretrial detention.

Robert Powell Jr. (right)

The standoff began about 6:20 a.m. May 10 when a U.S. Marshals regional task force came under fire upon entering Reese’s house on the 300 block of Centre Street. The officers were attempting to arrest Reese that morning because he had previously failed to appear in court regarding a Megan’s Law violation. Reese is a convicted sex offender who must register his status with the proper law-enforcement authorities.

In the deadly standoff, Reese barricaded himself inside his home and allegedly fired at police in a gunfight that killed Powell and left three Mercer County Sheriff’s officers wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. In addition to first-degree murder, the indictment also charged Reese with seven counts of first-degree attempted murder, seven counts of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of third-degree burglary, and one count of third-degree resisting arrest.

Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor John P. Boyle Jr. presented the case to the grand jury.

Alleged killer Tyleeb Reese fails to appear in court, lawyer cites health issues

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Tue, 23 May 2017 21:18:18 -0400

Tyleeb Reese

Tyleeb Reese commanded international attention during a 35-hour deadly standoff with police earlier this month but has been unwilling to make one court appearance since his surrender.

Reese, 35, of Trenton, failed to appear at his arraignment on May 16 and on Monday failed to appear at his detention hearing.

Public defender Nicole Carlo represented Reese in his absence on Monday, saying she has spoken with Reese and his family and that “he is waiving his right to appear” and that she has concerns about Reese’s mental health and physical health.

Reese has been charged with murder on allegations he shot and killed a civilian, 56-year-old Robert Powell Jr., during the early hours of the standoff on May 10. The standoff ended about 5 p.m. May 11 with Reese surrendering peacefully.

Law enforcement officers at the scene of a standoff on Centre Street in Trenton that ended Thursday, May 11, 2017, after 35 hours with suspect Tyleeb Reese surrendering. (John Berry - The Trentonian)

In the deadly standoff, Reese barricaded himself inside his home and is accused of firing at police in a gunfight that killed Powell and left three Mercer County Sheriff’s officers wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. In addition to murder, Reese has also been charged with the attempted murder of five law enforcement officials, weapons offenses and five counts of aggravated assault with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.

Robert Powell Jr. (right)

Carlo on Monday entered a not guilty plea on Reese’s behalf and consented to the state’s detention motion. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion seeking to detain Reese at the county jail without bail for up to two years while his murder case plays out in the courts.

With Reese’s attorney consenting to the detention motion, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw signed the detention order and scheduled Reese’s pre-indictment conference for June 19.

“We have concerns not only about his mental health but his physical health,” Carlo said about Reese at Monday’s hasty detention hearing. “Mr. Reese was in the hospital for a few days and then taken back right after he was released. After meeting with him, again not only by myself but with my investigator and also meeting with his family, I think for the purposes of his health it is best to waive his appearance.”

Reese’s detention hearing was originally scheduled to be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday but was instead rushed ahead of schedule and held Monday morning about 9:20 a.m.

Carlo said she has represented Reese twice in the past and reiterated that she has “concerns about his current mental state, and again, that is tied in with his physical health as well.”

Court hearing for alleged gunman in 35-hour deadly standoff gets postponed

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Thu, 18 May 2017 17:55:11 -0400

A scheduled detention hearing for the alleged triggerman who wounded three sheriff’s officers and killed a civilian during a 35-hour standoff last week has been postponed.

Tyleeb Reese, 35, of Trenton, is now scheduled to appear in court 1:30 p.m. May 23 before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, Reese’s upcoming detention hearing next Tuesday will settle the legal issue of whether he will be placed on pretrial detention or released from the county jail on certain conditions. If Warshaw orders Reese to be detained, he will be incarcerated at the Mercer County Correction Center for up to two years while his murder case plays out in court.

Tyleeb Reese

Reese has been charged with the murder of 56-year-old Robert Powell Jr. and the attempted murder of five law enforcement officials. He surrendered to police last Thursday to bring a peaceful resolution to what had been a violent confrontation.

The standoff began about 6:20 a.m. last Wednesday when a U.S. Marshals regional task force came under fire upon entering Reese’s house on the 300 block of Centre Street. The officers were attempting to arrest Reese that morning because he had previously failed to appear in court regarding a Megan’s Law violation. Reese is a convicted sex offender who must register his status with the proper law-enforcement authorities.

Five days after surrendering, Reese on Tuesday failed to appear in court for his arraignment on murder and attempted murder charges. The heavy charges against Reese also include weapons offenses and five counts of aggravated assault with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.

Reese is being represented by the New Jersey Public Defender’s Office and prosecuted by Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor John Boyle.

Alleged barricaded gunman fails to appear on murder charges

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Tue, 16 May 2017 18:55:51 -0400

Tyleeb Reese

Tyleeb Reese, the alleged gunman who barricaded himself inside a Centre Street home for 35 hours last week during a deadly standoff with police, originally became wanted for arrest due to his prior failure to appear in court.

Reese, 35, of Trenton, again failed to appear in court Tuesday for his arraignment on murder and attempted murder charges.

A sex offender already in hot water for failing to register, Reese on Tuesday afternoon opted to stay behind bars rather than appear in court to face heavy charges in connection with last week’s fatal gunfight that left one civilian dead and three sheriff’s officers wounded.

As an inmate at the Mercer County Correction Center, Reese could have easily attended his first appearance hearing but nevertheless declined to come in the jail’s video conference room.

With the video conferencing system activated and Reese nowhere to be seen, “He is not here, your honor,” public defender Thomas Belsky told the judge about his client. “Mr. Reese declined to come in the video conference room.”

Reese, who has been charged with the murder of 56-year-old Robert Powell Jr. and the attempted murder of five law enforcement officials, surrendered to police last Thursday to bring a peaceful resolution to what had been a violent confrontation.

Since Jan. 1, new defendants normally get arraigned within 48 hours of arrest. But Reese’s Central Judicial Processing or CJP hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday — five days after his arrest — due to him requiring medical evaluation after he complained of chest pains.

The public defender provided no explanation for why Reese declined to appear at his CJP hearing. If he attended, the judge likely would have asked Reese if he understood the charges against him and if he spoke with his attorney about his legal rights.

With Reese being a no-show, Belsky urged the judge to proceed with scheduling a detention hearing. The state has filed a motion seeking to place Reese on pretrial detention. If that motion is granted, Reese would continue to be held at the county jail without bail for up to two years while his case plays out in court.

A U.S. Marshals regional task force came after Reese about 6:20 a.m. last Wednesday to serve an arrest warrant due to Reese’s prior failure to appear in court for running afoul of Megan’s Law. Officers made entry into Reese’s home, and then a gunfight and 35-hour standoff ensued, authorities say. Reese’s mother helped persuade him to stand down and surrender.

Reese’s detention hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse.

Fatal Trenton standoff ends with surrender

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:45:16 -0400

Tyleeb Reese surrenders to police after a 35-hour standoff in Trenton. (submitted photo)

The standoff that lasted close to 35 hours in Trenton has ended peacefully.

Trenton standoff suspect Tyleeb Reese surrendered to police just after 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Reese, the suspected triggerman, engaged U.S. Marshals in a gunfight that left a civilian dead and three officers wounded. Reese then retreated to his family’s home on the 300 block of Centre Street and barricaded himself inside as police attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution the past two days.

“Go Tyleeb!” people shouted when a shirtless Reese exited his home about 5 p.m. Thursday with his hands on his head.

Earlier in the day, with 35-year-old Tyleeb Reese still holed up inside the house and a large police presence surrounding the neighborhood, one resident urged police to hurry up and end the standoff, saying, “They are taking too long.”

The standoff began about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday when members of a U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force served a sexual assault warrant at Reese’s home on the 300 block of Centre Street. Police say officers entered the home and were engaged in gunfire by the suspect.

While Reese was in the house he allegedly exchanged gunfire with police and shot and killed an innocent bystander who was crawling to a safe place for cover behind a car near the cops. Officials have identified the deceased victim as Robert Powell Jr., 56, of Lamberton Street.

“He was an honest guy but was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” city man Angel Rivera, 40, said Thursday morning of Powell. Rivera said he did not know Powell too well but knew him to be a gentleman who “helped out a lot” in the neighborhood.

Police guard the body of a homicide victim as the suspect is barricaded inside of a home on the 300 block of Centre St. in Trenton. (Penny Ray — The Trentonian)

Three Mercer County Sheriff’s Officers were also struck by gunfire in the gunfight with the suspect. All three officers were treated and released after being treated for injuries. Witnesses at the scene said Reese used a shotgun, or possibly a long gun, but police would not confirm that detail.

At a press briefing about 11 a.m. Thursday, Capt. Brian Polite of the New Jersey State Police said tactical assets personnel were engaged in ongoing negotiations with Reese.

Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson said the city on Wednesday served more than 450 meals to residents in the South Trenton neighborhood and said the city’s senior center on South Broad Street was being used as a shelter site for any residents who had to evacuate their homes as a result of the standoff.

“We are hoping to bring this matter to a resolve as quickly and as effectively as we can,” Jackson said. “I can assure you, though, that law-enforcement assets of all that are involved have been working tirelessly and working with professionalism to resolve this matter, and I urge the residents of our city to stay calm to continue to give the law-enforcement officers and agencies the opportunity to do their job to bring a peaceful resolution to this matter.”

Police scanners reported that shots were fired Wednesday night and that the barricaded suspect may have suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.

Reese’s father is a retired New Jersey state corrections officer, according to his mother Jeannette Bennett, who said she did not know her son had a firearm in his possession.

Action intensifies

During Day 2 of the standoff, several patrons bought sandwiches from the La Caribena Grocery store at 418 Centre St. late Thursday morning. They had to enter the establishment from the rear.

“I feel bad,” La Caribena owner Sergio Azcona said, “because I’m losing money. I have to pay money, taxes and everything. It’s crazy.”

At one point during the standoff, a police officer entered the La Caribena business Thursday morning and asked Azcona if he could use the restroom. The business owner happily obliged.

Among the few people who patronized the business on Thursday was Angel Rivera, who bought a cheesesteak. He said his girlfriend works with Reese’s mother at a welfare office and said the talk of the workplace was that Reese told his mom he would not surrender to police.

“He’s not going back to jail. That’s what his exact words were,” Rivera said. Calling the incident “sad,” Rivera said he believed that Reese may have mental health issues.

Mayor Jackson during the standoff said he was in contact with the suspect’s mother and said “she’s in good spirits as best as she can be at this time.”

Reese has a history of sexual assault, but area residents on Thursday continued to describe him as “a good guy.”

“I’m glad they didn’t kill him,” said Reese’s next-door neighbor Nate Myers. “He’s a good dude. I don’t know where this came from.”

Myers said police about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday entered into his home and ordered him and his three children to evacuate. “I thought that was stupid and disrespectful,” he said, adding his family had a place to stay and did not need to seek shelter at the city’s senior center on South Broad Street. “I’m ready to go home now,” Myers said shortly after the standoff came to a peaceful resolution.

Notably absent from the scene was Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr., who was participating in the annual Police Unity Tour as he has in the last two years.

Trenton Police Detective Lt. Stephen Varn confirmed Parrey’s participation in the unity tour and said the police director “is in continuous contact with the command staff of the department and receiving constant updates of not only the incident on Centre Street but also other department matters.”

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of law-enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum, according to the unity tour’s website.

The 2017 ride left North Jersey on Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Friday and conclude over the weekend with a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Investigation ongoing

Minutes after Reese surrendered on Thursday, New Jersey State Police spokesman Lawrence Peele gave a brief press statement saying, “Shortly after 5 p.m. tonight, the suspect Tyleeb Reese surrendered peacefully, exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries to the suspect or to law enforcement.”

Peele said the police investigation remains ongoing but declined to say anything more, saying, “We will have more information at a later time.”

Standoff in Trenton leaves bystander dead, 3 officers injured

Trentonian Staff — Wed, 10 May 2017 07:38:15 -0400

A city man with a history of sexual assault snapped when he saw police at his doorstep, leading to a standoff that left an innocent bystander dead.

As of press time Wednesday night, the suspect — identified as 35-year-old Tyleeb Reese — was still barricaded in a Centre Street home with police surrounding the building.

Officials say members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force served a sexual assault warrant at Reese’s home in the 300 block of Centre Street around 6:45 a.m. Police say officers entered the home and were engaged in gunfire by the suspect. Law enforcement then retreated while ducking fire and Reese retreated back into the house, where he remained barricaded until at least 10 p.m. Wednesday.

While Reese was in the house he exchanged gunfire with police and shot and killed an innocent bystander who was crawling to a safe place for cover behind a car near the cops. Officials have identified Robert Powell Jr., age 56, of Lamberton Street.

Three Mercer County Sheriff’s Officers were also struck by gunfire. All three officers were treated and released after being treated for injuries. Witnesses at the scene said Reese used a shotgun, or possibly a long gun, but police would not confirm that detail.

It’s unclear whether Reese was also hit by gunfire during the shootout.

The Centre Street home where the shooting happened is owned by Reese’s relatives, property records show.

Officials actively tried to negotiate with Reese throughout the day. Police allowed several of Reese’s relatives to call him in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender. Police also used a bullhorn on several occasions trying to convince him to exit the house.

Sources said Resse wanted to come out of the house but was afraid he’s was going to be shot.

Police do not know if there is anyone in the house with Reese, or the layout of the property, which is why they did not breach the home immediately.

Police used a sniper to watch Reese through a window.

New Jersey State Police TEAMS unit officers are seen moving the body of a man killed during a shootout with police. The alleged shooter barricaded himself inside after a shootout with police on May 10, 2017. (Penny Ray - Trentonian)

Officials confirmed the identity of the deceased victim early Thursday morning, who lied in the middle of the street at the corner of Federal and Centre until 1:20 p.m., when police removed his body using a SWAT vehicle as cover.

“This whole street is a powder keg. There’s always something going on in these alleys and back streets,” a witness said.

Around 8:30 a.m., police knocked on doors and forced residents of the 400 block of Centre Street to evacuate their homes. Meanwhile, some residents in the 300 block remained trapped inside their house until just before dark when cops helped some of them exit their property safely.

During the day, SWAT team members were seen running through the streets with rifles looking for a safe vantage point. At one point, a couple streets over, a school bus picked up kids, prompting residents to question why schools in the area were not shut down.

Police tossed tear gas into Reese's home twice, but it was not clear if the gas had any impact on him.

After visiting the scene Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Eric Jackson described the standoff as an “unfortunate scenario for all involved.”

“I am pleased that our law enforcement community, from the U.S. Marshals Office, to the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office and Trenton PD, are working collectively to try to resolve this as best they can given the circumstances that confront them,” the mayor said. “So I’m hopeful for the best possible outcome that can happen at this point.”

Neighbors who were sitting on their stoops near the crime scene said Reese was a “good guy” who just snapped.

“He’s very friendly and has a good character,” said one woman, who just got off the phone with the suspect’s ex-girlfriend. “We’re just as shocked as everyone else.”

Neighbors know Reese by his nickname “T” and said he just broke up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago.

“A lot is probably going on in his head stemming from the breakup,” one acquaintance said. “But I don’t think that would be a reason to do all this. He doesn’t seem like the type of person to do this over a girl. It has to be something bigger.”

Reese has a criminal record, which includes convictions of criminal sexual contact, failure to register on Megan’s Law and resisting arrest.

Standoffs in Trenton are nothing new.

The last deadly standoff occurred four years ago.

In May 2013, 38-year-old Gerald Murphy was shot and killed by police during a 37-hour standoff in a Grand Street home after he killed his girlfriend, her 13-year-old son, and held the woman’s three other children hostage at gunpoint.

It was a long ordeal that was carried out over three days and gained national media attention after police discovered the mother’s decomposed body in the home during a welfare check. When Murphy pulled a gun, officers retreated from the house and began the long standoff.

Police eventually raided the home following a loud explosion in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, May 12 and shot Murphy dead.

The affair forced neighbors out of their homes and kept an entire city on edge.

Then on Christmas Eve in 2013, another standoff occurred inside an apartment on the 200 block of Coolidge Avenue involving a hostage situation.

Kevin Robinson eventually surrendered peacefully four hours later after he held his 19-year-old daughter and her two children captive at gunpoint.

Dating back to 2013, there have been at least one police-involved shooting in the capital city each year, including the Murphy standoff.

In August 2013, Eric McNeil, 23, was justifiably shot and killed by police after he ambushed two detectives as they were escorting a domestic violence victim back to her Hobart Avenue home.

In November 2014, 31-year-old Darnell Stafford was shot and killed by cops after he fired gunshots through the windshield of their police cruiser on Wilson Street.

The following year, police shot 23-year-old Jeremiah Sanchez in the neck and arm after he allegedly hit an officer with his car while fleeing from the first block of Chestnut Avenue. Sanchez survived the shooting.

In August 2016, 34-year-old Alfred Toe was shot and killed by an off-duty Trenton police officer after he allegedly tried to wrestle a handgun away from the cop.

Police guard the body of a homicide victim as the suspect is barricaded inside of a home on the 300 block of Centre St. in Trenton. (Penny Ray — The Trentonian)