Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced today that investigations conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force have resulted in charges being filed in two recent homicide cases.
“The tenacity and resolve of the Homicide Task Force are truly remarkable,” Prosecutor Onofri said.
“Even with the continual shooting violence in Trenton, their hard work never lets up.
Their efforts are a demonstration of the commitment and efforts to ensure safety in the city and bring justice to the families ruined by the plague of gun violence.”
Just after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Trenton police received a Shot Spotter activation for multiple rounds at 900 Southard Street.
Also, a Trenton Police Donnelly Homes post was parked stationary approximately 50 yards away from the shooting and heard gunshots.
The officers immediately drove toward the shots and encountered the male victim who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim, identified as 26-year-old Melvin Williams of Trenton, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later.
Investigation revealed that Williams and the suspect engaged in a verbal dispute in the same area shortly before the shooting.
The suspect fired at Williams multiple times, and when Williams tried to run away, the suspect chased him and continued firing, striking Williams multiple times in the face and body.
Eight spent shell casings were located by detectives at the scene.
After reviewing several area surveillance cameras, HTF detectives were able to identify the shooter as a 16-year-old Trenton male whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile.
The 16-year-old suspect is charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.
He was taken into custody Thursday evening and is being held in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.
Quamir Bradley, 28, of Levittown, Pa., was also arrested on Thursday in Trenton by members of the HTF and the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force.
Bradley is charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and certain persons not to possess a firearm for the September 17, 2021 shooting death of Jeff Charles.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Bradley pending trial.
Trenton police were dispatched to a home on Race Street at approximately 12:50 a.m. on September 17 after Charles was discovered by a family member unresponsive in his bed.
Investigation revealed that Charles, 37, was shot in front of his residence on Race Street at approximately 12:30 a.m.
There was a gathering across from the victim’s house and, at some point, he was at the gathering and engaged in a verbal dispute with the suspect.
Charles was shot in the shoulder and two .40 caliber shell casings were found at the scene.
Through the review of video surveillance and witness interviews, detectives were able to identify Bradley as the suspect.