A man was shot and killed on East Stuyvesant Avenue. September 18, 2016 (Penny Ray - Trentonian)
A city man was gunned down Sunday afternoon, and according to citizens, there were more than one shooter, one of whom stomped on the victim's head after he dropped to the ground.
Police found 19-year-old Lance Beckett lying in the street on East Stuyvesant Avenue around 2:50 p.m. suffering from numerous gunshot wounds. Beckett was pronounced dead at the scene.
Citizens in the area said they heard five gunshots, and one man said the final shot sounded different than the first four, leading him to believe there were two shooters.
Lance Beckett aka Lance Poole (Facebook photo)
Other citizens at the scene also reported there were two shooters, and one man said Beckett was stomped after being shot.
"After they shot him, one of them ran over and stomped on his head," the man who asked to remain anonymous said.
As news of the murder spread throughout the city, residents rushed to the corner of Prospect Street and East Stuyvesant Avenue. Women wept in sorrow as they shared memories of the victim, whom they say has a relative who was murdered in 2007.
Lance Beckett is related to Arnold Poole, a member of the Gangster Killer Bloods who was murdered after a fashion show in Ewing in 2007. In fact, Beckett often used the Poole last name.
The area where the murder happened is the same place in which a 71-year-old man was shot in the butt earlier this month. In that shooting, the man was near the intersection of East Stuyvesant Avenue and Marion Street when he suddenly heard gunshots, ran, then realized he was struck in the buttocks. The man, whom police say was an innocent bystander, was later released from the hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening wounds.
Citizens who live near where the shootings happened say East Stuyvesant Avenue is not as violent as other parts of Stuyvesant. The two avenues are separated by Prospect Street, and residents say the criminal activity that happens on Stuyvesant rarely spills over onto East Stuyvesant.
"We normally don't have shootings on this block," a man who asked to remain anonymous said. "But, this is the second shooting to happen here in recent weeks."
In fact, residents say, no one actually lives on East Stuyvesant Avenue. Police had a large portion of the street blocked on Sunday, but it appears as if East Stuyvesant is mostly lined with garages. The rear of homes located on Rutherford Avenue are accessible from East Stuyvesant, though.
So far this year, 21 people have been killed in the capital city, which includes the police-involved shooting death of Alfred Toe and the hit-and-run death of Edwardo Martinez.
As of press time, no one has been arrested in connection with Sunday's murder.
Anyone with information about the incident 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 labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.
Police investigate a murder on East Stuyvesant Avenue. September 18, 2016 (Penny Ray - Trentonian)