Brian Ficzko
The gunshot victim who died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle in the North Ward has been identified as a suburban man who hailed from Hunterdon County.
Brian Ficzko, 40, of Flemington, crashed his car into a utility pole and another vehicle about 6 p.m. Thursday outside the Fast Trac Mini Mart along the 300 block of Mulberry Street, according to law-enforcement officials.
Ficzko was unresponsive when police arrived on scene. The officers did not initially suspect any foul play, and medics rushed Ficzko to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in hopes of reviving him. But once at the hospital, medical professionals determined Ficzko suffered much more than motor vehicle accident injuries: He suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said on Friday.
Ficzko was pronounced dead at the hospital about 6:35 p.m. Thursday, and the Mercer County Homicide Task Force since then has been actively investigating what turned out to be the latest slaying to rock the capital city.
Trenton Police investigate a homicide involving a gunshot victim who crashed his vehicle on the 300 block of Mulberry Street on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (SULAIMAN ABDUR-RAHMAN - The Trentonian)
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday did not have any more details to release in the incident. Authorities did not identify the make and model of the vehicle Ficzko was driving and did not provide any insight on why the Hunterdon County man was driving through the streets of Trenton.
Ficzko worked as an HVAC technician and graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School, according to his Facebook page. Public records show he has served time in jail for violating probation.
The Flemington man previously pleaded guilty in Hunterdon County Superior Court to burglarizing a Califon Borough property and stealing items in January 2008 and defrauding the administration of a drug test in May 2008.
On social media, Ficzko displayed his softer side by posting a selfie of him smiling with a kitten perched on his shoulder.
Brian Ficzko (Facebook Photo)
With less than two weeks left, so far this year, 23 people have been killed in Trenton, which includes two hit-and-run vehicular homicides.
In terms of the latest slaying, it was not immediately clear whether Ficzko was shot while driving or if he was shot prior to getting in the vehicle and attempted to drive it while wounded.
Police have not announced any arrests or suspect descriptions in the Thursday night slaying. Cops used patrol cars to block off the 300 block of Mulberry Street from vehicular traffic throughout the evening Thursday.
Anyone with information about the Ficzko murder is urged to call (609) 989-6406. Or use the Trenton Police Confidential Tip Line at (609) 989-3663.
Staff writer David Foster contributed to this report.