December 30, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–An investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force (MCHTF), the Trenton Shooting Response Team and the New Jersey State Police’s Intelligence & Criminal Enterprise Section – Crime Suppression Central Unit has resulted in the arrest of a Trenton man for the shooting death of a 44-year-old city resident, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey announced.
Najir Tripp, 29, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon. He was arrested on Sunday, December 29, during a search warrant execution at his Trenton residence. The prosecutor’s office will file a motion to detain him pending trial.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024, Trenton police responded to the 300 block of West Hanover Street on a ShotSpotter activation for more than 20 rounds. Responding officers arrived on scene to discover the victim, later identified as Michael Jones, 44, of Trenton, in the driver’s seat of a black Mercedes sedan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Jones was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he died the next day.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Ryan Minnick at (609) 989-6406 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.
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
- 06/01/2024 Shydasia Merrick, 26, of Trenton (Hit and Run)
- 06/11/2024 Johnathan Applegate
- 06/23/2024 Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton, Shooting, died 6/27/2024
- 07/02/2024 Capriest Ruiz, 23, of Camden, Shooting, died on 2/3/2024
- 07/04/2024 Amir Williams, 32, of Trenton, Shooting
- 07/12/2024 Johny Emmanuel Cruz-Rodrigez, Shooting
- 07/14/2024 Luis Torres Marrero, 47, of Trenton, Shooting 7/9/2024
- 09/22/2024 Opium Leverette, 17, of Trenton, Shooting
- 12/08/2024 Kristoffer Givens, 47, of Ewing, Shooting
- 12/22/2024 Shakeem Lemach Davis, 32, of Trenton, Shooting
- 12/27/2024 Michael Jones, 44, of Trenton, Shooting
Homicide Victims in Mercer County outside of Trenton:
December 30, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–An investigation conducted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in the arrest of 51-year-old Trenton man for sexually assaulting a minor child in the city, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey announced.
Jose Agustin-Hernandez, 51, is charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken into custody in Trenton on Sunday, December 29, by members of the MCPO. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Agustin-Hernandez pending trial.
According to allegations in the complaint and affidavit, on the evening of Tuesday, December 23, 2024, during a prayer service at an in-home chapel on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton, an individual entered a room where a six-year-old girl was sleeping and sexually assaulted her. The victim ran out of the room crying and told a family member. Individuals from the residence attempted to chase down the man who fled out of the door and down to the corner, where they lost sight of him.
Detectives with the Trenton police and the prosecutor’s SVU spent the next few days interviewing numerous witnesses and collecting and reviewing video surveillance footage from various locations in the area, and were able to identify Agustin-Hernandez as the individual who entered the residence and committed the assault.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact prosecutor’s Detective Michael Wherley or Sergeant Sherika Salmon at (609) 989-6568 or [email protected].
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jose Agustin-Hernandez, 51, is charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.