Police have charged a city man in connection with two murders and five armed robberies.
Randy Kareem Washington, 33, is charged in connection with the murders of 43-year-old George Jamison and 64-year-old Silas Johnson. He is also charged in connection with five armed robberies that occurred in Trenton between July and October.
"Make no mistake, whether it takes 24 hours or 24 months, we will utilize the full power of our resources to throw in jail anyone who perpetuates violence against our city and its resilient people," Mayor Eric Jackson said in a written statement.
Silas Johnson was gunned down near the intersection of Market Street and the Route 1 overpass on the morning of Oct. 29. When police arrived on-scene, they found him lying on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson was then taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Witnesses told police that Washington was in a struggle with Johnson when he produced a handgun and fired several times. Police apprehended Washington on Conover Alley shortly after the shooting.
According to prosecutors, evidence collected at the Market Street crime scene also linked Washington to the July 30 murder of George Jamison. Police say Jamison was shot once in the back while sitting on a bus stop bench in front of 18 North Broad Street. The murder was reported as a robbery gone awry, and witnesses told police they saw a lone black male bicycling away from the crime scene shortly after the shooting.
Randy Kareem Washington
Washington is also charged in connection with the following armed robberies:
• On July 13, a 44-year-old man exited the Trenton Train Station and was approached from behind by Washington, who then allegedly hit the man in the face with a handgun. Washington then stole $20, a bicycle and a cell phone from the victim, according to prosecutors.
• On July 23, a 24-year-old woman was placing her children in the car after attending church services on North Willow Street when Washington approached her on a bicycle and allegedly pointed a gun at her head. During the robbery, the victim’s purse, wedding band and iPhone were taken.
• On Oct. 16, a 24-year-old man was in the 300 block of Centre Street when Washington allegedly shot the victim in the hand and took his Diamondback bicycle. The bike was recovered by police on the day of the Market Street homicide. Ballistics evidence from the Centre Street robbery has also been linked to the Jamison and Johnson murders, according to prosecutors.
• On Oct. 17, a 44-year-old woman was going to a store near the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Monmouth Street when she was approached by Washington, who allegedly demanded money. When the woman said that she did not have money, prosecutors say, Washington pistol-whipped the victim causing a fractured nasal cavity and orbital bone. The woman was beaten unconscious and later awoke in the hospital, according to prosecutors in the case.
• Also on Oct. 17, a 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were walking on Greenwood Avenue when they were approached by Washington, who allegedly pointed a handgun at them. Prosecutors say the woman was pistol-whipped and sustained injuries to her left eye and a concussion. A cell phone was taken during the robbery, according to prosecutors in the case.
Washington is charged with two counts of murder, related weapons offenses and five counts of armed robbery; his bail was set at $3 million cash. Prosecutors say he is being held on an additional $100,000 cash bail for resisting arrest, criminal trespass and obstructing the administration of law.