Steven Quinton Brannon | Homicide Watch Trenton

'Unity Walk' in Trenton to visit sites of murdered victims

David Foster — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 15:27:46 -0400

Residents gather for a prayer service on the steps of Shiloh Baptist Church on May 1, 2014, in observance of the National Day of Prayer.

Like biblical verses, Rev. Lukata Mjumbe can recite the names of the city’s murder victims, the date they were killed and where.

In an attempt to humanize the victim, the executive director of Urban Mission Cabinet Inc. has made it his mission to learn what he can about the lives that ended too soon.

“I know these names because we pray about them by name when we come together,” Mjumbe said in an interview last week with other community religious leaders. “They’re no longer statistics for us.”

For the second year in a row, the United Mercer Interfaith Organization (UMIO) will host a “Unity Walk” on May 1 to visit the sites where victims were murdered this year. The Mercer County freeholders and Trenton council have already passed resolutions recognizing May 1 as the official day of unity in the community.

The walk originated last year after bullets entered the Galilee Baptist Church during a funeral in April, injuring several. Religious leaders met and decided they needed to take the message to the streets, said Mjumbe, who co-chairs UMIO.

“We need to go to those places where we were having these types of community conflicts, to go into the places where violence was running rampant and to directly engage the people,” he said. “We not only need to talk the talk we need to walk the walk.”

Islamic Center of Ewing Imam Qareeb Bashir, who is also the city’s fire director, co-chairs UMIO, an organization which spans many different denominations.

“We’re one human family,” Bashir said. “The murders that took place, these were people who were parts of families … but also part of the Trenton community.”

By the religious community coming together, Bashir said it exemplifies comprehensive strength that it is a serious matter and something needs to be done to stop the bloodshed.

“Hopefully, it will bring awareness, unity and it also will show the families that people really care,” he said.

Two years ago, Trenton experienced the city’s deadliest year with 37 murders. Last year, even though there was an 80-day stretch with no murders during the summer, 33 people were murdered. So far this year, there have been six reported homicides.

“We want to say to the kids that are living, let’s stop the murder,” Shiloh Baptist Church Rev. Darrell Armstrong said. “Trenton as a land has had so much turmoil, so much challenge, so much tragedy, so much trauma. It’s time to give the land a rest.”

Armstrong, who is on the UMIO steering committee, says the walk will be part in parcel with the Black Lives Matter marches. But he believes it’s more than just white police officers involved in the deaths of black men – it’s blacks killing other blacks like mostly what has occurred locally.

“What is the value of any life regardless of who pulled the trigger and who is on the other side that received a bullet?” Armstrong questioned. “What we’re saying in our local community, the lives of these six persons matters so much that we want to not only go to the places and reclaim where their murders took place, but we also want to make a very definitive statement that death of any kind is not acceptable. “

Unlike the recent Black Lives Matter protests, though, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen said the “Unity Walk” will have no chants or signs.

“For me, it’s a statement without using any words when we walk the streets of Trenton,” said Hernandez-Granzen, the vice-chair of UMIO. “It gives us an opportunity to just enter into conversations with our neighbors. I think that it is a statement in our commitment to claim our city and that we want to have a better relationship with our neighbors.”

Stops on the walk to pray will include where Anthony Jones, Wilbur Thomas, Taquan McNeil, Steven Quinton Brannon, and Darryl Ford were murdered. A visit is also planned to the 200 block of Elmer Street where a man recently died from a fire that authorities determined to be set by arson.

First Baptist Church of Trenton Rev. Calvin Powell said he’s been trying to reach out to the victim’s families to have them come out and participate.

“We believe this would be the process of healing,” he said. “With us coming together, I think this is saying we too want a safe haven for our children. This needs to stop, it’s time to come together in peace.”

The “Unity Walk” will have three starting points: At 3:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1140 Greenwood Ave., and the Islamic Center of Ewing, 685 Parkway Ave., will begin their walks. For the after-work crowd at 5 p.m., the walk at the Shiloh Baptist Church, 340 Reverend S. Howard Woodson Way, will commence.

The three groups will converge at the Gandhi Peace Garden, 223 E. Hanover S., at 6 p.m. That will be followed by a free dinner at the Trenton Masonic Temple, 100 Barracks St., at 7 p.m.

“We want to bring the families together very intentionally,” Mjumbe said of the dinner. “At the dinner, we will be sitting together as a community, and breaking bread together.”

At dinner, important service providers will be offered such as job training, crisis and grief counseling, legal assistance and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

With more than 40 sponsors already participating, Mjumbe said there is still an opportunity for businesses, organizational and congregational sponsorships.

For more information email umioorganizer@gmail.com or visit www.unitedmercerinterfaith.org.

Mjumbe has one lofty goal from the “Unity Walk.”

“Moving forward, we want to change the headlines,” he said. “We hope that eventually we’ll put the Trenton Homicide Watch page out of business.”

Prosecutors say man accused of shooting Trenton boxer gave taped confession

Isaac Avilucea — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 11:08:37 -0400

A Trenton man accused of fatally shooting former boxer Steven Brannon admitted to the murder in a taped confession, prosecutors said.

William Snead III, 31, is accused of opening fire on two men March 10 outside of his city apartment last month, mortally wounding Brannon, and injuring Marvin Williams.

Steven Quinton Brannon

Snead told authorities that a .40-caliber handgun State Police found during a drug raid of his East Hanover residence was the same one he used to kill Brannon.

Snead faces counts of murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

Brannon was shot in the throat, lost too much blood and succumbed to his injuries after being taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center; Williams spent a few days in the hospital, nursing a gunshot wound to the hip.

During a bail hearing Wednesday, Assistant Prosecutor William Fisher said prosecutors are waiting to see whether ballistics from a bullet recovered from Williams confirm it was fired from the handgun found inside Snead’s apartment.

Witnesses identified Snead as the shooter, Fisher said, although he did not reveal a motive, saying after the hearing he had “very little information.”

Snead’s attorney, Diane Lyons, said her client indicated he does not know anything about the crimes.

“He knows nothing about the charges,” she said. “He was questioned by the police and locked up.”

Snead has prior convictions for gun possession, receiving stolen property and drug offenses. He also faces drug charges after police found cocaine and marijuana inside his home, prosecutors said. His combined bail is $1.2 million.

Bryant Brannon, the victim’s brother, previously told The Trentonian one of his siblings ran into Snead days after the murder. Snead greeted him and acted like he was not involved in the crime.

“My brother just looked at him like ‘Come on, you have the nerve to speak to me,’” Bryant said. “This is something that will take a long time for my family to heal from.”

Trenton man in jail on drug offenses charged with murder of Steven Quinton Brannon

Penny Ray — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:28:58 -0400

A city man who was arrested last week after police raided his home and found weapons and drugs has been charged in connection with the murder of former city boxer Steven Brannon.

On the evening of March 10, police found 46-year-old Steven Quinton Brannon and 58-year-old Marvin Williams suffering from gunshot wounds in the 200 block of East Hanover Street. Williams was shot in the hip and groin area and survived his injuries. Brannon was shot in the throat and later died at the hospital.

William Snead III

On Thursday last week, police raided the East Hanover Street home of 31-year-old William Snead III and found six grams of cocaine, 25 grams of marijuana, a Hi-Point .40 caliber handgun, a TW-11 stun gun, numerous rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia. Snead was arrested at the time of the raid and charged with various drug and weapons offenses.

Then, on Friday, prosecutors charged Snead with murder, aggravated assault and various weapons offenses in connection with the March 10 shooting that claimed Brannon’s life and injured Williams. Snead is now being held on $1 million cash or bond for the murder charges.

“We were wondering why it was taking so long for them to make an arrest,” Steven’s brother Bryant Brannon said.

According to Bryant, witnesses told the Brannon family that Snead was the last person seen talking to Steven. Witnesses also told the Brannon family that Snead ran from the scene of the crime shortly after the shooting.

Steven Quinton Brannon

Steven Brannon, who is also known as “Strength,” was a former city boxer who won both of his amatuer fights. But he never became a professional fighter because he got caught up in the street life. His brother Bryant was a professional boxer who once fought Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden.

“Steven was like a baby to us all,” Bryant said. “We were always there for him throughout his addiction trying to encourage him to get off of the streets before something like this happened. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to save himself.”

A couple of days after his brother’s murder, Bryant said, Snead saw one of the other Brannon brothers on Hanover street and spoke to him using a traditional Muslim greeting. The Brannons thought the greeting was odd, Bryant said, considering the rumors about Snead being the killer.

“My brother just looked at him like ‘Come on, you have the nerve to speak to me,’” Bryant said.

Bryant said he then questioned whether Snead was indeed the shooter because he found it strange for him to be walking the streets as if nothing happened.

“I thought that if this guy had murdered Steven he wouldn't be out in the open like this,” Bryant said.

Prosecutors have not yet disclosed what evidence led them to charge Snead in connection with Brannon’s death. But Bryant said he wouldn’t be surprised if the gun found in Snead’s home last week matches shell casings found at the scene of his brother’s murder.

"This is something that will take a long time for my family to heal from,” Bryant said. “I want to thank the police for their swift action in this particular case. There's a lot of unsolved murders in the city right now. We're glad that police are doing what they're getting paid to do.”

Two shot, one killed in Tuesday night shooting

Penny Ray — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:56:56 -0400

At least seven crime scene evidence placards littered the sidewalk signifying that something terrible happened.

A late night Tuesday shooting injured one man and killed a former city boxer.

Steven Quinton Brannon, 46, was shot in the throat, according to a family member who spoke to The Trentonian. He left behind two daughters and four grandchildren.

Police were dispatched to the 200 block of East Hanover Street to investigate reports of gunfire around 10 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived on-scene, police found two people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police say a 58-year-old man was shot in the hip and groin area, but they would not confirm exactly where Brannon was struck. The men were both taken to Capital Health Regional Medical center, where Brannon was pronounced dead a short time later.

That block of East Hanover Street is a hotspot for criminal activity. Police did not disclose a motive for the killing, but Brannon’s family said they would not be surprised if the incident involved drugs.

“Once he smoked crack, he was a different person,” his brother Bryant Brannon said.

Steven Quinton Brannon

According to his family, during the 1980s, Steven was an amatuer boxer, but he never pursued a professional career because he got caught up in the street life.

“He could’ve been a great professional fighter,” Bryant, who once fought Roy Jones Jr., said. “But he was never able to completely come up out of the street.”

His family said Steven had been in and out of jail for all of his adult life and may have spent more time incarcerated than he spent in society. Steven was released from jail about four months ago, his family said, and about two weeks after his release, he decided to be baptized.

“He was a very religious person,” Bryant said. “He was a strong believer, but he just didn’t have the faith to turn his life around. He loved the Lord and he always talked about a change.”

Steven’s family doesn’t know exactly why he was on East Hanover Street Tuesday night, but they say it was one of his regular hangout spots.

A man who works on that block said the neighborhood has changed dramatically from the time it used to be called “lawyers row.”

“When I was a boy, there was nothing down here but professional people,” Leroy Nevius said Wednesday morning. “It was beautiful, but over time things changed. A lot of the blame for the deterioration of the neighborhood has to do with absentee landlords. They rent the place out and only come back once a month to pick up that rent money.”

Police guard the scene of a fatal shooting on East Hanover Street. (March 11, 2015 - Trentonian/Penny Ray)

On Wednesday morning as police guarded the crime scene, broken down cardboard boxes covered various portions of the street. Beer bottles, cigar wrappers, plastic bottles, kitchen trash and other debris also littered the sidewalk and street. There was also a couch in the middle of the sidewalk.

“This is about one block away from City Hall,” Nevius said. “If an (economic) developer was to come through and make a turn down Hanover instead of State Street, they might change their mind. It behooves the city to clean up the area to make it look prosperous or at least clean.”

North Ward Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson said she has been trying to turn that neighborhood around and develop it into an “Avenue of the Arts.” Most of the buildings in the 200 block of East Hanover Street are boarded up and covered by street murals. The councilwoman would like to see artists from the Tri-state area choose Trenton as a place to live and work.

“When the artists were in Gallery 219 and those apartments were rented to artists, they kept that place looking pretty good,” Caldwell-Wilson said. “I have to contact the Trenton Downtown Association and see what they’re going to do about that (trash).”

The councilwoman said the regular presence of artists on that block deterred some of the criminal activity because there were always crowds of people bringing attention to the area. She’s now trying to establish a civic association in that part of town to bring the community together to improve the neighborhood.

SAGE Coalition artist Will “Kasso” Condry, who painted many of the murals on that block, said the neighborhood has changed a lot since the organization moved out of Gallery 219. SAGE moved out of the building, Condry said, after someone broke in and stole pipes out of the basement. The building is now under repair.

“SAGE didn’t completely stop (criminal activity) on the block, but it slowed down and evolved to the point where a lot of times you wouldn’t even see (street hustlers) because we were bringing too much attention to that block," Condry said. "If someone was out there selling dope, they didn’t want that type of attention, so they went somewhere else. Even the hardest gangster respected what we did because we didn’t interfere with their business. Art is like a repellent of negativity.”

Nevius said there needs to be more police patrols in the area because he’s seen city workers drive through the block after work to score drugs.

“The people in the suburbs sit back and complain about the area, but they contribute to it being what it is,” Nevius said. “Around 5 p.m. you can come through here and see the Mercedes and the BMWs. They stop and pick up their recreational drugs and go home. But if there’s no market for a product, the store will close down.”

No arrests have been made in connection with Brannon’s death and police have not released a suspect description.

The case is being investigated by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force. Anyone with information about the killing 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 can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.