Two city residents were arrested Saturday and later charged with murder in connection with the death of 24-year-old Jahmar Hall.
Daniel Angel McCargo, 28, and Curtis J. Grier, 27, are each charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. McCargo is also charged with certain persons not to possess a weapon.
“In spite of low manpower, the men and women of our department are out there working their hardest and giving 110 percent every day,” Trenton Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr. said Monday afternoon. “While we couldn’t stop that homicide from occurring, we were active in finding that car and apprehending the individual with the weapon.”
Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Hall was found lying partially underneath a pickup truck in the 800 block of Quinton Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead at St. Francis Medical Center.
Witnesses told police they saw a black vehicle fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting. And less than an hour later, police saw a black Mercedes Benz driving on Ardmore Avenue with darkly tinted windows.
The officers were about to stop the vehicle, police say, when all of a sudden a suspect, later identified as McCargo, stepped out of the car and walked away. Meanwhile, a man later identified as Grier continued to drive down the street.
One of the officers then jumped out of the police car and noticed McCargo allegedly toss a handgun onto the ground. McCargo was then arrested, while the other officer stopped the Mercedes and apprehended Grier. Police then searched Grier and allegedly found him in possession of a large black knife.
“Hats off to Director Rivera and the Trenton Police Department,” Mayor Muschal said Monday. “It’s great that they made the arrest, and I’m happy for the residents of Trenton.”
Initially, McCargo and Grier were only charged with weapons offenses. And Grier posted bail, while McCargo was taken to jail, police say. But further investigation of Saturday’s homicide revealed enough evidence to charge both McCargo and Grier with murder in connection with Hall’s death.
Police say Grier then turned himself into an attorney’s office Monday morning.
McCargo and Grier are each being held at the Mercer County Correction Center on $300,000 bail.
The case remains 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 can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.