Police identify city’s eighth homicide victim

Police are investigating the murder of a man who was shot on Bryn Mawr Avenue Thursday.
At 7:34 p.m., police and medical personal were called to a residence at the end of Bryn Mawr near Volk Street on reports of a man shot. Authorities were directed to the backyard of a residence where they found Cornelius Boakai, 21, of Trenton, who was unresponsive, Lt. Stephen Varn said.
Bokai was rushed to the Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He is the city’s eighth homicide victim of this year. Police are investigating the circumstances of his shooting and have not released a description of a suspect.
According to various social media websites, Boakai went by Cornelius Durant. Boakai was a student at the Mercer County Community College and was in the process of trying out as a defensive back for Gattaca Football, an unaffiliated and unaccredited post-high school football team that plays various college, junior college and prep school teams.
Gattaca coach Manuel Galarza recalled receiving a troubling phone call from one of his players informing him of Boakai’s death around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning.
“It’s a tough blow,” Galarza said.
Galarza said he first met Boaki a few months ago after he called the coach in January asking for the chance to try out for the team. In the weeks leading up to his death, Boaki began participating in the team’s spring practices and was also planning a trip to Jamaica.
“He was a wonderful kid,” Galarza said. “He grew on us, he had a big heart and we were happy to have him.”
Galarza said the team will find some way to honor Boakai in the upcoming season, be it a patch on their jerseys or in some other fashion.
The TPD’s Scott Peterson is on the case. He is being assisted by Detectives Matt Norton and Robert McNally of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Anyone with information about the homicide can call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 or the Crimestoppers 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.