Tiara Green | Homicide Watch Trenton

Trenton man gets 38 years, says nothing to families of slain teens

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:25:20 -0400

Alton Jones, the notorious half-brother of the Skillman twins, was bent on settling a score. But he missed his target twice, instead killing two innocent bystanders in a span of three days on the streets of Trenton, prosecutors said.

His actions “literally broke” a mother’s heart – she died a year after her daughter, whom family affectionately dubbed the “snack baby” because of her affinity for sweets, was fatally shot in the stomach behind the Rowan Towers on West State Street in Trenton.

Alton Jones

Jones was sent to prison Friday for 38 years – 32 which he must serve before he could be paroled – for killing victims Rayshawn Ransom and Tierra Green, both 19, days apart in June 2013.

Jones – who fled to New Haven, Conn., and was arrested after a police standoff – pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this year to two counts of aggravated manslaughter.

He sat blankly and coldly while listening as the victims’ families gave tear-filled tributes to their loved ones.

Tierra Green’s parents never got to confront their daughter’s killer. Tia Green died of a heart attack Sept. 12, 2014. Her husband, Elliot Simon Jr., was murdered in Trenton on April 8, 2016.

Tiffany Hollingshead, Tierra’s aunt, said everything her sister Tia Green couldn’t say to Jones.

While she said she couldn’t hate Jones, who has a 5-year-old daughter with one of the Green family’s close friends, she admonished him for destroying three families. As she spoke, another family member held up a framed photograph of the last time Tierra and mother posed together.

“You took away three lives,” s

Rayshawn Ransom

he said. “My niece’s life, Ray’s life and your own life.”

One of Tia Green’s Facebook posts was read in court. The post, poetic and prophetic, discussed Tia’s feelings of despair and hope for justice. She talked about how her tax dollars would be funneled to a man in prison for killing her daughter “in cold blood.”

Rhythmically repeating the phrase “Free Alton Jones,” Tia said that even if Jones makes it out of prison alive, he will never be freed from Tierra’s spirit, which will “invade your sleep.”

Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Katz read a letter from Ransom’s family, written by his sister. In the letter, she said she is haunted by memories of holding her brother’s lifeless hand at the hospital along with the stench of dried blood on his body.

She said that however long Jones spends in prison it will “never be enough.”

Her sentiments mirrored Katz, who urged Judge Thomas Brown to go along with the recommended sentence.

“No matter how much time he does, it will not bring back these young people,” she said.

Prior to the judge handing down the sentence, Jones was given an opportunity to speak.

He didn’t apologize or offer any words showing he recognized the impact his actions had on the victims’ families.

The only scrap of emotion Jones showed was when he got mad at a sheriff officer for threatening to kick his family members out of the courtroom for apparently snickering at the victims’ families.

Jones had words with the sheriff officer and had to be calmed down by his attorney, Andrew Duclair.

Duclair said his client privately expressed remorse and did not intend to kill Green or Ransom.

Duclair said his client was gunning for another man whom he had squabbled with in the past. Violence erupted because Jones and a group of men had beef with people who hailed from Passaic Street.

Two other men were arrested, charged and pleaded guilty for their roles in Ransom’s death.

Duclair said nothing excused Jones’ decisions.

“My heart is broken hearing this,” Duclair said.

Trenton man who was set for trial admits to two murders

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:18:52 -0400

Alton Jones, the half-brother of the notorious Skillman twins, admitted fatally shooting two teenagers three days apart in accepting a plea that calls for him to spend 38 years in prison, prosecutors said.

Jones must serve 19 years each for the deaths of Rayshawn Ransom and Tierra Green, for a total of 38 years, Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Katz said.

Ransom was gunned down during a deadly, gang-related shootout that led to convictions of two other Trenton men. Green was shot and killed June 15.

Alton Jones

In pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated manslaughter, Jones had a stunning change of heart after he had rejected a previous offer of 40 years.

Andrew Duclair, Jones’ attorney, did not return a phone call Monday afternoon requesting comment about the deal.

Jones appeared intent to take the murder cases to trial, and a judge earlier this year ruled that prosecutors could try him together for both slayings.

The trial was set to start in September.

Jones' guilty plea comes about a month after his half-brother, Maurice Skillman, and a second man, Hykeem Tucker, were convicted at a second trial of killing Mercer County corrections officer Carl Batie.

Jones was initially charged along with half-brother Marquis Skillman, and Dyquise Leonard, following Ransom's death.

The other two men pleaded guilty for their roles.

Jones and Leonard were reportedly involved in an ongoing feud with a group of people who hailed from Passaic Street.

The two groups met as part of an expected truce when Jones, Leonard and Skillman reportedly opened fire on three men, including Ransom, as he was seated in the car.

Ransom, 19, was struck and killed while his friends were wounded in the shootout.

Investigators said the fatal shot came from Jones’ automatic handgun, which witnesses said was tossed out of a getaway car that sped away from the scene.

Jones fled to New Haven, Conn., where he was arrested following a police standoff.

Leonard pleaded guilty to attempted murder in Ransom’s death as part of a 12-year sentence.

Marquis Skillman was expected to receive 11 years for robbery and was awaiting sentencing when he was arrested again this year, possibly jeopardizing his plea agreement.

Judge to decide whether Skillman brother is tried jointly on two murders

Isaac Avilucea — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:29:10 -0500

A judge will decide in the coming months whether the Skillman twins’ brother who is charged with killing two Trenton residents within days of each other will be tried for both murders at a single trial.

Alton Jones

Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez said at a hearing Tuesday he will issue a written opinion in April about whether prosecutors can try Alton Jones jointly for the murders of Rayshawn Ransom and Tierra Green.

In arguing the murders are connected, prosecutors in January asked to try the cases together before a single jury rather than separating them and having different panels decide whether Jones killed the city residents.

Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Katz has said the murder cases are tied together because Jones used the same handgun to mow down both Ransom and Green on Passaic Street in June 2013. Green was fatally shot in the stomach three days after Ransom was gunned down in a deadly, gang-related shootout that led to convictions of two other Trenton men.

Prosecutors and defense attorney Andrew Duclair, who represents Jones, were scheduled to make oral arguments on the joinder motion Katz filed. Duclair opposed his client being tried together. Both attorneys agreed to have the judge review court papers and have him decide the issue rather than arguing it.

Whatever Jimenez decides, Jones is expected to take his cases to trial.

Prosecutors have said they are at an impasse in negotiations with Jones, who rejected a plea offer of 40 years in state prison, 20 years each running consecutively for two counts of aggravated manslaughter.

Jones was initially charged along with Marquis Skillman, and Dyquise Leonard, following the shooting death of Ransom, 19, who was gunned down while he sat in a car with friends on Passaic Street.

Rayshawn Ransom

Investigators have said the fatal shot came from Jones’ automatic handgun, which witnesses said was tossed out of a getaway car that sped away from the scene.

Jones and Leonard were reportedly involved in an ongoing feud with a group of people who hailed from Passaic Street. The two groups met as part of an expected truce when Jones, Leonard and Skillman reportedly opened fire on three men, including Ransom, as he was seated in the car. Ransom’s friends were also wounded in the shootout.

Leonard pleaded guilty to attempted murder in Ransom’s death as part of a 12-year sentence.

Marquis Skillman, the twin brother of Maurice Skillman, said he was armed but did not admit to firing when he pleaded guilty to robbery last year.

He was expected to receive 11 years in state prison and was awaiting sentencing when he was arrested last week with another man. Police said Skillman and Justice Ford, 28, were found in possession of handguns and marijuana in a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop.

It is unclear how the new charges impact a plea deal for Marquis Skillman, who earlier this month refused to testify against his brother, Maurice, at his murder trial.

Maurice Skillman and Hykeem Tucker must be retried for the 2012 murder of Mercer County corrections officer Carl Batie after the first trial ended this month in a hung jury, forcing a judge to declare a mistrial for the third time in four months.

Jones is expected back in court April 4. Jimenez said, regardless of how he rules, Jones must decide that day whether he is still taking the murder cases to trial.

Trenton man charged in two murders could be tried at single trial

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 15:27:39 -0500

A Trenton man charged with killing two people days apart in 2013 may have his murder cases tried together at a single trial if prosecutors have their way.

Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Katz said she will file court papers, known as a

Alton Jones

joinder, in the coming weeks asking to try Alton Jones together for the murders of Rayshawn Ransom and Tierra Green.

She said Jones used the same handgun to mow both Ransom and Green on Passaic Street in June 2013. Green was fatally shot in the stomach three days after Ransom was gunned down in a deadly, gang-related shootout that led to convictions of two other Trenton men.

A judge has scheduled oral arguments in Jones’ case for Feb. 16. Jones is expected to oppose prosecutors’ request for a joint trial.

Regardless of the outcome, Jones plans to fight both murder charges. Clad in a green jumpsuit, he nodded to supporters at the back of the courtroom, telling them to “Be safe” when a woman told him to keep his head up as he was led away in shackles from the courtroom.

Prosecutors said they are at an impasse in negotiations with Jones who has rejected a plea offer of 40 years in state prison, 20 years each running consecutively for two counts of aggravated manslaughter.

“We’re not making progress,” said Katz, who inherited the case from retired prosecutor Lewis Korngut.

Jones was charged along with Marquis Skillman, 29, and Dyquise Leonard, following the shooting death of Ransom, 19, who was gunned down while he sat in a car with friends on Passaic Street.

Investigators have said the fatal shot came from Jones’ automatic handgun, which witnesses said was tossed out of a getaway car that sped away from the scene.

Leonard pleaded guilty to attempted murder in Ransom’s death as part of a 12-year sentence.

Skillman, the twin brother of Maurice Skillman, said he was armed but did not admit to firing when he pleaded guilty to robbery last year.

He was expected to receive 11 years in state prison and was still awaiting sentencing when he was arrested last week with another man. Police said Skillman and Justice Ford, 28, were found in possession of handguns and marijuana in a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop.

It is unclear how the new charges will impact Skillman’s plea deal.

Skillman’s brother and another Trenton man are expected to go on trial this month for the November 2012 murder of Mercer County Corrections Officer Carl Batie.

Trenton man charged in relation to city shooting death pleads guilty to robbery

Isaac Avilucea — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:10:26 -0400

A man implicated with two others for his role in a deadly, gang-related shootout that ended the life of Rayshawn Ransom in June 2013 pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and is expected to be sentenced to 11 years in state prison.

Marquis Skillman

Marquis Skillman, 28, was charged along with West Ward gang members Alton Jones, 23, and Dyquise Leonard, 20, in connection with the June 12, 2013 fatal shooting death of Ransom, 19, who was gunned down while he sat in a car with friends on Passaic Street.

Authorities said Jones and Leonard were involved in an ongoing feud with a group of people who hailed from Passaic Street. The two groups met that day as part of an expected truce when Jones, Leonard and Skillman reportedly opened fire on three men, including Ransom who was seated in the car. Ransom’s friends were wounded in the shootout.

Skillman, who is free on bail and appeared in court from the streets, is the twin brother of Maurice Skillman, who was charged with the November 2012 murder of of Mercer County Corrections Officer Carl Batie.

While Marquis Skillman admitted Monday he was armed with a handgun, he did not say he opened fire on the vehicle carrying Ransom.

Prosecutors said Skillman did not fire into the car, and investigators have said the fatal shot came from Jones’ 10 mm automatic handgun, which witnesses said was tossed out of a getaway car that sped away from the scene.

Prosecutors would not say if Skillman, who was initially charged with murder for Ransom’s death, must cooperate against his codefendants as part of the plea deal.

Jones also faces murder charges for the fatal shooting death of Tiara Green. 19, who was shot in the stomach three days later on the same street as Ransom. He has rejected prosecutors’ offer of 40 years.Leonard pleaded guilty to attempted murder for Ransom's death as part of a 12-year sentence.

Skillman’ sentencing date was not immediately available.

Two suspects in Trenton murders reject plea deals, will go to trial

Paul Mickle — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 17:19:08 -0400

A suspect in four New Jersey murders was offered 40 years in prison Monday for guilty pleas to his two alleged slayings in Mercer County last summer.

Alton Jones, 23, appeared before Mercer Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez along with his suspected accomplice in the first murder, Dyquise Leonard, who rejected a deal giving him 13 years in prison.

Both were charged with killing Rayshawn Ransom, 19, in a hail of bullets fired at him and two friends sitting in a car along Passaic Street on June 12, 2013.

Jones is additionally charged with firing away at a group of 30 people on Passaic three days later and hitting Tiara Green, 19, in the stomach, killing her, before fleeing to Connecticut.

Assistant Mercer Prosecutor Lew Korngut made the plea offers, which both were rejected, meaning the allegations against them will be heard at trial, and each could get more than 30 years in prison if convicted.

Authorities said Jones and Leonard, 20, are gang members from the West Ward who had some kind of dispute with the crowd on Passaic Street.

A meeting about a truce was set up but as soon as the factions came face to face, Jones, Leonard, and Marquis Skillman allegedly started pumping bullets into the car. Two of Ransom’s friends were wounded in the deadly barrage.

Korngut said investigators tied Jones to the deadly shot, which came from a distinctive 10 mm automatic handgun that witnesses pointed out to street cops after it was tossed from the Cadillac Eldorado getaway car around the corner from the shooting scene.

Leonard is being represented by lawyer Diane Frost. Jones, who also faces two other murder charges in Hudson County, had defenseman Andrew DuClair.

Jones was ordered held on $1.5 million cash bail after his arrest. Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier also ordered high bail for Leonard and both appeared in shackles and prison jumpsuits for the hearings, which were attended by several members of both victims’ families.

Suspect in two murders arraigned in municipal court

Brian Dzenis — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 07:07:01 -0400

TRENTON — A man who is accused of murdering two people and had a standoff with Connecticut police was arraigned Thursday morning.

Alton Jones

Alton Jones, 21, returned to New Jersey from Connecticut on Wednesday after being picked up by detectives from both the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, MCPO spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said. He is accused of shooting and killing Rayshawn Ransom, 19, on June 12 and murdering Tierra Green three days later while wounding two other people. Following the second killing, Trenton police announced the manhunt for Jones.

U.S. Marshals in the New York/New Jersey task force tracked Jones to New Haven, Connecticut. When Jones spotted authorities outside his hideout, he allegedly ran back inside the house and barricaded himself in the home. After an hour of negotiations, Jones surrendered peacefully.

Jones was charged with two counts of homicide, two counts of attempted homicide, numerous weapons offenses charges, receiving stolen property, specifically a 10mm handgun stolen from Maryland and tampering with evidence. The tampering charge stems from Jones allegedly arranging to have the handgun used in Green’s killing removed from the scene because he believed he was being investigated by police, according to the prosecutor’s office.

As Judge Gregory Williams read him his charges, Jones sat on a bench in pink handcuffs looking around the room. He remained silent except when answering the judge’s questions and told The Trentonian, to “stop staring him,” before mumbling more unintelligible remarks. Once the judge was finished reading Jones his rights, he was whisked away by Trenton police. Between both murders, bail has been set at a combined $1.5 million.

Trenton murder suspect arrested after standoff in Connecticut

Brian Dzenis — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 20:10:15 -0400

After an hour-long standoff with U.S. Marshalls and the SWAT team in New Haven, Conn., city man Alton Jones is under arrest, according to the U.S. Marshals.

Jones, 21, was wanted by Trenton police for two separate homicides in June. He allegedly shot and killed both Rayshawn Ransom, 19, on June 12 and Tierra Green, 19, on June 15. Police announced that the manhunt for Jones on June 21.

“He went ghost,” Deputy Marshal Michael Schroeder said. “We’ve been working 20 hours a day on this case since the warrant was issued.”

“[The marshals] were so elated to get this guy,” he added.

After interviewing friends and family of Jones, the marshals developed a lead that Jones may be hiding in the New Haven. The marshals in Connecticut were notified and on Monday, they began to wait outside a home on the 100 block of Newhall Street for signs of Jones.
On Tuesday, around noon, their patience was rewarded.

“They saw him come out of the house and when he saw the vehicles, he ran back inside the house,” Schroeder said. “He barricaded himself in the home.”

New Haven SWAT team was called to the home and after an hour of negotiations, Jones surrendered peacefully. He is currently awaiting extradition to New Jersey. He has been charged with homicide for both the Ransom and Green cases, Trenton police Lt. Mark Kieffer said. The home where Jones was arrested is being searched for further evidence, Schroeder said.

Jones joins two of his brothers in facing murder charges. Marquis Skillman, 27, is also facing murder charges as well as weapons offenses in connection with Ransom’s death. Marquis Skillman is the twin brother of Maurice Skillman, who is accused of killing Mercer County Corrections Officer Carl Batie last November. Jones and the Skillman twins are all sons of the late Alton Jones Sr. Of the three murders allegedly committed by the brothers, two of the victims, Batie and Green, are considered to be innocent bystanders by authorities.

Trenton teen shot dead on West State Street

Brian Dzenis — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:59:15 -0400

A recent Trenton Central High Graduate was shot and killed while attending a party Saturday night.

Tierra Green, 19, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the stomach on the 600 block of West State street. The shooting also left two others wounded. A woman who declined to give her name, but identified herself as a cousin of Green said she had been planning to go into nursing school.

"She just graduated and had plans for herself," the woman said while waiting outside the trauma center at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center. "There's no way she could have been the intended target."

According to a family member of the victim, Green was at the party when a car pulled up and fired numerous shots into the crowd. A woman was shot in the back while another man was struck in the buttocks while trying to shield one of the victims. At the crime scene, approximately 12 evidence cones could be seen near the Rowan Towers Housing Project, indicating either spent shell casings or live rounds were found by police. The surviving victims currently remain in stable condition, Sgt. John Zappley said. The homicide took place less than a mile away from the police substation on Hermitage Avenue and Artisan Street.

Police have made one arrest in connection with the homicide. Alphonso Thompson, 24, faces charges for weapons offences, but currently has not been charged with homicide, Zappley said. The investigation remains ongoing.

Extended family for all three victims remained outside Capital Health for hours after the shooting Sunday morning waiting for status updates for the surviving victims, noting the recent incidents of bystanders getting caught in the crossfire.

"It's getting worse, it's the summer, so you have everybody outside," a woman waiting outside said.

Last week on June 9, 61-year-old Berkley McDaniel was shot and killed on the 400 block of Stuyvesant Avenue. Police said he and another man wounded at the scene were innocent bystanders.

Green is the city’s 17th homicide victim this year. Earlier in the weekend, Rayshawn Ransom was taken off life support after being shot in the head and chest on the 100 block of Passiac Street.

"This isn't another scene from 'Boyz n the Hood,' this is real life," Green's cousin said. "That's three more families affected by all this violence."

Anyone with information regarding the homicide can call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 or the Crime Stoppers tipline at 609-278-8477.

Those wishing to text a tip regarding the homicide can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.