Police process a murder scene in the 300 block of St. Joes Avenue. June 7, 2015 (Penny Ray - Trentonian)
Several evidence placards littered the sidewalk and front porch of a city home as a half a dozen law enforcement officials processed a crime scene early Sunday morning.
Two people stood on the corner of Girard and St. Joes avenues watching law enforcement do their jobs. The citizens refused to talk, but the somber expression on their faces was enough to know that the morning’s events affected them. A handful of others stopped by the intersection over the course of about 30 minutes. Each of them had the same look on their face and no one said a word. They didn’t need to speak. The scene itself was enough to know that another person was murdered in Trenton.
Ronnie Livingston (Contributed photo)
Prosecutors investigating the case said police were patrolling the city around 2:15 a.m. Sunday when they heard several gunshots. As the officers were trying to locate the shooting, ShotSpotter indicated that shots were fired on Girard Avenue.
When police reached the location of the shooting, they found a man later identified as 24-year-old Ronnie Livingston lying on the sidewalk in the 300 block of St. Joes Avenue. Prosecutors say Livingston suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are also investigating a shooting that occurred about four hours prior to the murder. Around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, police say, a 15-year-old male was shot while in the first block of Bellevue Avenue. The victim told police that he was with several friends on Fairway Drive when he decided to walk to a store on Bellevue. As the victim walked back to Fairway, he heard gunfire. He then started running, police say, and felt pain in his ankle. He then realized that he had been shot, and a family member took him to the hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the right ankle.
Sunday’s murder marks the second time in as many weeks that someone was killed near St. Joes Avenue. On the morning of May 31, Paris France Way was found near the intersection of St. Joes and Sherman avenues suffering from multiple stab wounds; he later died at the hospital.
Ronnie Livingston with his daughter (Contributed photo)
This year’s homicide toll is now nine.
The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is investigating Livingston's death. Anyone with information about the killing 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.