December 13, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced today two teenagers have been arrested in a September shooting on Bellevue Avenue in Trenton that claimed the livesof 15-year-old Shemiah Davis and 19-year-old Candice Ruff.
A 17-year-old male from Trenton and a 16-year-old male from Hamilton are each chargedwith conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder,two counts of aggravated assault, theft by receiving stolen property, and firearmsoffenses. The 17-year-old was arrested on December 1, 2021, in Trenton by membersof the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. He is being held in theMiddlesex County Juvenile Detention Center. The 16-year-old was arrested onDecember 8, 2021, in McDonough, Georgia, by members of the U.S. Marshals ServiceSoutheast Regional Fugitive Task Force. He is being held at the Metro Regional YouthDetention Center in Georgia pending an extradition hearing.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Forceand the Trenton Police Department. At approximately 6:45 p.m. on September 25, 2021,Trenton Police responded to a Shot Spotter activation for multiple rounds in the first blockof Bellevue Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers identified two victims at the scene. Davis suffered multiple gunshotwounds to the head and torso. She was transported to the hospital and pronounced deada short time later. Ruff suffered gunshot wounds to her head and died as a result of herinjuries on October 4. Two additional victims arrived at the hospital by private vehicle,including a 17-year-old who was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trenton Shooting Update, 15 Year Old Victim Identified
Statement From Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora and Acting Police Director Steve Wilson on Saturday’s Bellevue Avenue Shootings
On September 27, 2021: Acting Police Director Steve Wilson and I are outraged following the senseless shooting of four Trentonians, ages 20, 15, 17, and 19, on Bellevue Avenue near North 25 Housing on Saturday evening. Tragically, the 15-year-old has passed away. We stand with these families in their hour of unspeakable pain.
The scourge of gun violence in cities across America is profoundly impacting our communities. It is terrifying and unsettling to feel the weight of this issue so close to our home and our hearts. Since January 2021, Trenton PD has taken more than 150 guns off our streets, and a new task force established by Acting Director Steve Wilson is poised to do more. We have reduced gun violence in our city by 20% compared to the same period last year. Together, we can bring the offenders of this shocking crime before the law’s full force and begin the process of healing for our entire city.
The Trenton PD, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and other law enforcement are working at the Real-Time Crime Center gathering information to take these criminals off our streets. In addition, I ask residents of that neighborhood, including North 25 Housing and the public, to come forward with any information that might help us identify the perpetrators of these shootings and bring them to justice. You can provide information in confidence to the Homicide Task Force of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 989-6406.
Names of 2021* homicide victims:
- 2/18/2021 Jabree Saunders, 26, from shooting on May 14, 2018
- 2/22/2021 Khalil Gibbs, 25, of West Windsor, shooting
- 2/25/2021 Lovelle Laramore, 60, of Trenton shooting
- 4/15/2021 Kaheem Carter, 22, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/20/2021 Shaquan McNeil, 25, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/24/2021 Cheryl Jones, 65, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/29/2021 Ramire Harvey, 25, of Trenton, shooting
- 5/15/2021 David Williams 36, of Trenton, shooting
- 5/29/2021 Edgar Geovani Sis-Luis, 34, of Trenton, aggravated manslaughter
- 7/05/2021 Dion Ellis, 16, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/14/2021 Pablo Herrera Chun, 53, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/19/2021 William Mitchell, 33, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/19/2021 Jermel Carter, 38, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/29/2021 Leonard Pettigrew, 58, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/30/2021 Shaquil Loftin, 23, Shooting, Trenton
- 8/01/2021 Daquan Basnight, 30, of Ewing, Shooting
- 8/13/2021 Javier Chaj-Ajtun, 33, of Trenton, Shooting
- 8/19/2021 Herberth Ramirez Pimentel, 37, of Trenton, Shooting
- 8/23/2021 Yanquai Edwards, 25, of Rancocas, NJ, Shooting
- 8/25/2021 Daron Cheston, 18, Trenton, Shooting
- 8/27/2021 Ziare Jones, Shooting
- 8/30/2021 Fred Davis, 43, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/06/2021 Shamiem Young, 26, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/17/2021 Jeff Charles, 37, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/25/2021 Shemiah Davis, 15, Trenton, Shooting
- 10/2/2021 Omar Burgess, 49, of Trenton, Shooting
- 10/3/2021 Elias Juarez Lopez, 31, of Princeton, Shooting
- 10/4/2021 Candice Ruff, 19, of Trenton, Shooting On September 25
- 10/7/2021 Douglas Munn, 50, of Trenton. Shooting
- 10/13/2021 Melvin Williams 26, of Trenton, Shooting
- 10/29/2021 Edwin Obdulio Gomez Interiano, 41, Shooting
- 10/29/2021 Everth Barrera, 56, of Ewing, Shooting
- 10/30/2021 Dartanian Ames of Lawrence, 41, Shooting
- 11/1/2021 Hector Torres, 43, of Trenton, Shooting on 10/31
- 11/17/2021 David Johnson, 39, of Trenton
- 12/11/2021 Michael Degrass of Trenton
*Updated to reflect the person who died in 2021 from complications from a shooting on May 14, 2018 as per medical examiner report.