Nazier Francois
TRENTON — A city man has been arrested for the murder of 19-year-old Shaela Johnson.
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that Nazier Francois, of Chambers Street, is charged with murder and numerous other offenses, including attempted murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault, aggravated arson, weapons and tampering with evidence, related to the November 27, 2018 shooting death of Johnson.
The daylight killing of Johnson shocked the city as surveillance video showed two men jump out of a vehicle and gun down a woman, later identified as Johnson, in front of a deli on the 800 block of Stuyvesant Ave.
Law enforcement sources said at the time that she was shot approximately 14 times.
Sources said Johnson appeared to be the target of the shooting, as one gunman stood over her and fired a few rounds while she was on the ground, striking her in the arms, chest, and head.
A woman was gunned down in the 800 block of Stuyvesant Avenue Tuesday, November 27, 2018. (Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman - Trentonian)
The video shows a second gunman chase a second victim down the street, but it’s unclear whether that person was struck by gunfire, according to police.
Johnson was reportedly taken to the hospital via a pickup truck, rushed into emergency surgery and later pronounced dead.
Authorities say the 2012 Nissan Maxima used by the gunmen was stolen out of Hamilton on November 19. After the murder, police found the car engulfed in flames near the intersection of East Howell and Franklin streets. Officials say the fire was lit intentionally.
The investigation is ongoing. The second suspect has not been arrested. Anyone with information is asked to contact the MCHTF at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.
Johnson was one of six people arrested in April of 2017 following the attempted killing of Zaire Jackson, who was acquitted of murder charges in connection with the 2012 death of Irvin “Swirv” Jackson. Johnson and others were charged with weapons offenses after police found them in a nearby apartment with guns shortly after Zaire was shot in the stomach.
After a judge released the group from jail on the weapons offenses, Johnson was arrested seven months later for dealing heroin.
Court records show Johnson was on probation at the time of her death.
Shaela Johnson
Police investigate Trenton's final murder of 2018, which left a woman dead in November. (Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman - Trentonian)
Shaela Johnson was murdered in Trenton Tuesday.