TRENTON >> Mercer County officials have announced a 16-count indictment charging a Trenton man for the shooting death of Ciony Kirkman.
Ciony Kirkman (contributed photo)
Peter Charles, Jr, 18, was charged with first-degree murder and a list of lesser charges, according to a press release from the office of Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri
Charles, of Bayard Street, was also indicted on six counts of first-degree attempted murder, seven counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He remains in jail in lieu of $750,000.
On April 26, 2016 Ciony Kirkman, 16, was declared legally dead at Capital Health Regional Medical Center around 10:30 p.m.
Kirkman was inside a stolen minivan with a group of other kids when the vehicle was ambushed by gunfire on Jersey Street around 6:30 p.m. April 24, 2016.
Several sources told The Trentonian that residents of Jersey Street were warned the street was “going to be lit up like a firecracker” minutes prior to the shooting.
Sources say minutes after the warning, they heard at least a dozen gunshots in rapid succession.
Police say Kirkman was in a stolen Ford Windstar with six other juveniles when someone fired gunshots at the vehicle. At least one bullet traveled through the minivan’s rear windshield. After it was hit, the vehicle traveled to the intersection of Beatty Street and South Clinton Avenue and police were dispatched to the area.