The juvenile is charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree carjacking, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses.
July 30, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson announced today that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force (MCHTF), the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Serious Collision Response Team (SCRT) and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old Lawrence male for the shooting death of Yoni Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez.
The juvenile is charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree carjacking, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses. He was arrested Monday without incident in Trenton by members of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the MCHTF and New Jersey State Police. He will be held in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center pending a court hearing. His name is being withheld because he is a minor.
On July 12, 2024, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Trenton communications received several calls reporting an accident that involved an overturned vehicle in the area of Garfield and Farragut avenues. Upon arrival, emergency personnel located a white Dodge Durango that was overturned. They found the victim, Yoni Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez, 27, of Trenton, inside the Durango suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, as well as two minor children who were strapped into car seats and unharmed. According to witnesses to the incident, Cruz-Rodriguez was standing at the open back of the Durango when an unidentified suspect entered the vehicle and attempted to drive away. Cruz-Rodriguez attempted to climb in the rear of the Durango when witnesses indicate multiple gunshots were fired, the vehicle crashed into two parked cars a short distance away and the suspect fled the scene. Cruz-Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Chris Pullen at (848) 992-6436 or Sgt. William Jett Jr. at (609) 331-5010. Information can also be emailed to [email protected].
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A Go Fund Me is set up here for the victim’s family:
YONI EMANUEL CRUZ RODRIGUEZ
Buen día Me llamo Roger Cruz Rodríguez hermano de Yoni estoy recaudando fondos para poder enviar el cuerpo de mi hermano a su tierra natal La Iguala Lempira Honduras ayúdenme no tenemos recursos para repatriar
a mi hermano ya que la familia espera por el y dejó una niño de 3 años de edad y una niña de dos mesecitos
el día Sábado 14 de julio una persona le quitó la vida cuando iba saliendo de la iglesia
ayúdeme por favor con lo poco que puedan Dios les multiplicará
1 los fondos de los 12 mil serán utilizados para enviar el cuerpo
2 se han recaudado hasta el momento 1900 dólares
3 y 310 por medio de Zelle
4 esperamos terminar al 100% las ayudas
YONI EMANUEL CRUZ RODRIGUEZ
Good morning My name is Roger Cruz Rodríguez brother of Yoni I am raising funds to be able to send my brother's body to his homeland La Iguala Lempira Honduras help me we do not have resources to repatriateto my brother since the family is waiting for him and left a 3-year-old boy and a two-month-old girlOn Saturday, July 14, a person took his life when he was leaving the church.Please help me with the little you can, God will multiply you1 the funds of the 12 thousand will be used to send the body2 have raised so far $19003 and 310 via Zelle4 we hope to finish the aid 100%
Names of the 2024 Trenton Homicide Victims
- 01/13/2024 Eduardo Lopez-Cruz, 38, of Trenton, Shooting
- 01/16/2024 Stefon Locke, 33, Shooting on 1/16 died 2/8/2024
- 02/28/2024 Shawn Moore, 45, Trenton, Shooting
- 03/19/2024 Donnell Jenkins age 52, Stabbing
- 04/04/2024 Jose Alfredo Azcona Garcia, 46, of Trenton, Shooting
- 05/01/2024 Jerome Francis, 43, of Hamilton
- 05/01/2024 Chevaughn Fagan, 28, of Trenton
- 05/19/2024 Stephon Fisher, 18, of Trenton, Shooting
- 05/26/2024 Dwayne Penix, 20, of Trenton, Shooting
- 06/11/2024 Johnathan Applegate
- 06/23/2024 Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton, Shooting, died 6/27/2024
- 07/04/2024 Amir Williams, 32, of Trenton, Shooting
- 07/02/2024 Capriest Ruiz, 23, of Camden, Shooting, died on 2/3/2024
- 07/12/2024 Yoni Emmanuel Cruz-Rodrigez, Shooting