Police respond to a suspect barricaded inside of a home on the 300 block of Centre St. in Trenton.
Penny Ray — The Trentonian
More than 24 hours after a triggerman engaged U.S. Marshals in a gunfight that left a civilian dead and three officers wounded, the suspect as of 12:30 p.m. Thursday remained barricaded inside a South Trenton home with police still attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
With 35-year-old Tyleeb Reese still holed up inside the house and a large police presence surrounding the neighborhood, one resident urged police to hurry up and end the standoff, saying, “They are taking too long.”
The standoff began about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday when members of a U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force served a sexual assault warrant at Reese’s home on the 300 block of Centre Street. Police say officers entered the home and were engaged in gunfire by the suspect.
While Reese was in the house he allegedly exchanged gunfire with police and shot and killed an innocent bystander who was crawling to a safe place for cover behind a car near the cops. Officials have identified the deceased victim as Robert Powell Jr., 56, of Lamberton Street.
“He was an honest guy but was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” city man Angel Rivera, 40, said Thursday morning of Powell. Rivera said he did not know Powell too well but knew him to be a gentleman who “helped out a lot” in the neighborhood.
Three Mercer County Sheriff’s Officers were also struck by gunfire in the gunfight with the suspect. All three officers were treated and released after being treated for injuries. Witnesses at the scene said Reese used a shotgun, or possibly a long gun, but police would not confirm that detail.
Press update
At a press briefing about 11 a.m. Thursday, Capt. Brian Polite of the New Jersey State Police said tactical assets personnel were engaged in ongoing negotiations with Reese.
Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson said the city on Wednesday served more than 450 meals to residents in the South Trenton neighborhood and said the city’s senior center on South Broad Street was being used as a shelter site for any residents who had to evacuate their homes as a result of the standoff.
“We are hoping to bring this matter to a resolve as quickly and as effectively as we can,” Jackson said. “I can assure you, though, that law-enforcement assets of all that are involved have been working tirelessly and working with professionalism to resolve this matter, and I urge the residents of our city to stay calm to continue to give the law-enforcement officers and agencies the opportunity to do their job to bring a peaceful resolution to this matter.”
Police scanners reported that shots were fired Wednesday night and that the barricaded suspect may have suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
Trenton Homicide Watch is trying to confirm whether Reese is related to a Mercer County corrections officer.
Action continues
During Day 2 of the standoff, several patrons bought sandwiches from the La Caribena Grocery store at 418 Centre St. late Thursday morning. They had to enter the establishment from the rear.
“I feel bad,” La Caribena owner Sergio Azcona said, “because I’m losing money. I have to pay money, taxes and everything. It’s crazy.”
At one point during the standoff, a police officer entered the La Caribena business Thursday morning and asked Azcona if he could use the restroom. The business owner happily obliged.
Among the few people who patronized the business on Thursday was Angel Rivera, who bought a cheesesteak. He said his girlfriend works with Reese’s mother at a welfare office and said the talk of the workplace was that Reese told his mom he will not surrender to police.
“He’s not going back to jail. That’s what his exact words were,” Rivera said. Calling the incident “sad,” Rivera said he believed that Reese may have mental health issues.
Mayor Jackson said he has been in contact with the suspect’s mother and said “she’s in good spirits as best as she can be at this time.”
Reese has a history of sexual assault, but area residents on Thursday continued to describe him as “a good guy.”
Directing off-site
Notably absent from the scene was Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr., who was participating in the annual police unity tour as he has in the last two years.
Trenton Police Detective Lt. Stephen Varn confirmed Parrey’s participation in the unity tour and said the police director “is in continuous contact with the command staff of the department and receiving constant updates of not only the incident on Centre Street but also other department matters.”
The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of law-enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum, according to the unity tour's website.
The 2017 ride left North Jersey on Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The candlelight vigil will take place Saturday at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and Parrey and the other participants in the Police Unity Tour are scheduled to check out Sunday morning.
Varn also said anyone who has been displaced as a direct result of the 30-plus-hour standoff can take shelter and receive services at the senior center at 870 S. Broad St. or call (609) 989-3837.