Police investigating city's 30th homicide

By SCOTT KETTERER
sketterer@trentonian.com
TRENTON — With the city still reeling from a shootout on Hobart Avenue, another city man was killed during an early morning home invasion on Friday.
According to Trenton Police Lt. Mark Kieffer, 25-year-old Kayron Jones was shot once in the chest during a home invasion in the 600-block of North Olden Avenue at 12:32 a.m.
“Three black males entered the residence and shot the victim,” Kieffer said. “He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds.”
The motive is not yet known in the shooting and further description of the suspects was not available.
The 25-year-old’s death comes after two Trenton Police detectives were shot while they were transporting a domestic violence victim to her home on the first block of Hobart Avenue. Detectives Edgar Rios and Jim Letts — unaware the suspect returned home — were ambushed when 23-year-old Eric McNeil came out of the home and began firing his .38 revolver. The detectives then returned fire, killing McNeil. Rios was struck twice in the torso and Letts was struck twice, once in the right shoulder and once in the right side of his abdomen.
Both detectives were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center following the shootout for treatment. Rios was in his second surgery on Friday afternoon. Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini said Friday afternoon that Rios was in critical but stable condition after undergoing additional surgical procedures. Letts was released from the hospital on Friday according to the Prosecutor.
Jones become the city’s 30th homicide victim less than a week after the death of Adelso Buendia, who was shot and killed in the city’s South Ward late last Saturday night. Police are still investigating his death.
Jones is the city’s 30th homicide victim, just one shy of the record of 31 set amid a wave of gang violence in 2005.
Jones' death is under investigation by Trenton Detective Ryan Woodhead and Detective Gary Wasko of the Mercer County Prosecutor's office. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the shootings can call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 or the Crime Stoppers tipline at (609) 278-8477.
Those wishing to text a tip regarding the shootings can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.