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