Police investigate a murder in the 100 block of Miller Street. (Penny Ray - Trentonian)
A man was shot and killed while sitting in a car directly across the street from the hospital Wednesday night, marking the second murder this month in the capital city.
The incident happened around 9:35 p.m. in the 100 block of Miller Street, a section of the city that doesn't experience much violence, located directly across the street from Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
"We don't see too much criminal activity in this area," a cop at the scene said Wednesday night. "It's kinda surprising."
Adding mystery to the surprise, the car was still idling and partially parked on the sidewalk parallel to a fence, leading detectives to believe the man was driving the car at the time he was shot. Cops presume the man placed the car in park after it jumped the curb, and at this time it doesn't appear the vehicle struck any obstacles before it stopped.
Police say the man was shot numerous times, including once in the head. They don’t believe anyone else was in the car with him at the time of the shooting.
While some investigators canvassed the scene for additional evidence, detectives spent most of their time focused on the dark-colored Acura the victim was driving. The vehicle had New York license plates, and police believe the man may not be a local resident.
As of midnight, police had not yet searched the vehicle for additional clues that may provide a motive for the killing. Witnesses at the scene said they didn't see what happened prior to the gunshots.
So far this year, the city has experienced 10 homicides, which includes the hit-and-run death of Lea Pringle.
Seven people have died by gunfire this year, and two people were stabbed to death.
Anyone with information about Wednesday's killing is urged to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406 or the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at (609) 278-8477.
A man was murdered while in his car across the street from the hospital Wednesday night (Penny Ray - Trentonian)