Two people were killed and eight others wounded when multiple gunmen opened fire on a large block party in Trenton early Sunday morning, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Trenton police were dispatched to the 100 block of Locust Street at approximately 12:23 a.m. Aug. 30 for a shooting in progress. Officers found multiple adult victims, who were taken by ambulance or private vehicle to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
A 33-year-old woman and 42-year-old man were pronounced dead. Eight other victims — two women and six men ranging in age from 23 to 43 — were treated and stabilized, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The preliminary investigation found that approximately 100 people were attending a block party when multiple suspects walked up and began firing into the crowd. Investigators recovered more than 50 spent shell casings, and multiple vehicles were struck by gunfire. The crime scene encompassed the entire 100 block of Locust Street.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday, and the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Trenton Police Department were continuing to investigate. Detectives were reviewing surveillance footage and attempting to locate witnesses.
In a statement following the shooting, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora described the gathering as an unauthorized event on a residential street and said the city plans to take additional steps to prevent similar gatherings.
“This was a large, unauthorized adult gathering involving hundreds of people on a residential street,” Gusciora said, estimating that 200 or more people were present.
That estimate differs from the approximately 100 people cited in the preliminary investigation released by the prosecutor’s office.
Gusciora said the city is examining strategies used elsewhere, including earlier identification of large gatherings, increased coordination and deployment of law enforcement, enforcement of existing ordinances and intervention before crowds become dangerous or unmanageable.
“This is not about criminalizing people for gathering together,” Gusciora said. “It is about recognizing the difference between a gathering and hundreds of people occupying a residential street without authorization, particularly when firearms and violence become part of that environment.”
The mayor said the response would also include outreach by city street teams and community partners in the Wilbur section of East Trenton. Those teams will speak with residents and families, gather information, connect people with resources and work to prevent retaliation or additional violence.
Gusciora also appealed to people who attended the gathering to provide investigators with photographs, video, text messages, social media posts or other information that could help identify those responsible.
“If you know something, say something,” he said. “If you have video, preserve it.”
The mayor thanked the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police and police departments in Ewing, Lawrence and Hamilton for assisting Trenton authorities.
The prosecutor’s office said Ewing police assisted with crowd control.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detective Jennifer Eyster at 609-989-6406. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
