Trenton police investigate a murder on Hillcrest Ave in the West Ward. Sources say a man was shot while sitting inside this Nissan Murano. (Gregg Slaboda - Trentonian)
A city man was killed in broad daylight Friday afternoon, becoming the second murder victim this week.
Twenty-six-year-old Jermaine Johnson, who was identified on social media as Mooky Johnson, was shot in the first block of Hillcrest Avenue a little after 4 p.m. Friday.
Jermaine Johnson, aka, Mooky Johnson (Facebook photo)
Sources say Johnson was sitting inside a Nissan Murano, which was parked in a driveway when he was shot at least five times.
When law enforcement arrived on-scene, they found Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Not a week goes by without at least one person being injured by gunfire in the capital city. Earlier this week, 16-year-old Ciony Kirkman was shot while with a group of juveniles inside a stolen minivan on Jersey Street; she died two days after the incident.
The shooting sparked an outcry by community leaders who held a stop-the-violence rally near the intersection where police found the minivan after it was ambushed by gunfire. Clergy and local lawmakers asked citizens to "protect the women and children in our community" and "stand up for justice and equality" to "save Trenton."
Clergy, lawmakers and community residents gathered Tuesday for a Stop the Violence rally in Trenton. (Penny Ray - Trentonian)
This coming Sunday, the United Mercer Interfaith Organization (UMIO) is hosting its third annual Unity Walk where clergy, families, local lawmakers and community activists will walk, pray, listen and unify in the name of peace and healing at the places in Trenton where homicide victims have been slain so far this year.
"The loss of any life should remind us how fragile and how valuable life really is," the Rev. Lukata Mjumbe, co-chair of UMIO, said Friday after hearing about the latest homicide. "Trenton Lives Matter. In the face of this darkness we will stand even more committed to unity, healing and restoration in the city. No one or no thing can murder the movement that is emerging."
So far this year, six people have been killed by gunfire within the capital city, which is the same number of people who had been murdered by the end of April last year.
Police have not released a suspect description nor motive for Friday's killing.
Mercer County Homicide Task Force is investigating the case. Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406 or contact the Trenton Police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663. Individuals may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at (609) 278-8477. Those wishing to text a tip can send a message labeledTCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.
- Trentonian staff writer Penny Ray contributed to this report.