August 2, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson announced today that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force (MCHTF) and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in the arrest of four individuals in the July shooting death of Capriest Ruiz.
Dajon Bethea, 26, of Trenton, Shyheim McMillon, 27, of Trenton, Jamir Black, 26, of Trenton, and Shatwan Liverman, 27, of Suffolk, Virginia, are each charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Additionally, Bethea and McMillon each face a charge of accomplice liability murder.
Bethea, Black and Liverman were taken into custody Thursday morning, August 1, in locations in Trenton, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the MCHTF, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, the Monmouth County SWAT Team, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Trenton Police Department and the New Jersey State Parole Board. At the time of his arrest, Bethea was in possession of a defaced firearm and suspected heroin. Additional charges are forthcoming. McMillion was taken into custody Thursday morning, August 1, in a hotel room in Miami Beach, Florida, by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Miami Beach Police Department.
At approximately 1:35 p.m. on July 2, 2024, Trenton police responded to the 200 block of Euclid Avenue on a ShotSpotter activation. Upon arrival, officers located 23-year-old Ruiz, of Camden, NJ, on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his head. He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he died the next day. According to complaints in the case, on the afternoon of the shooting, Ruiz was riding a bicycle through Trenton. The four defendants followed the victim for several city blocks in a white Jeep and while on Euclid Avenue, gunshots were fired, and Ruiz was shot in the head.
Bethea’s girlfriend, Patricia Washington, 29, was also arrested Thursday morning in relation to the case and charged with false reporting, obstruction and hindering apprehension. The investigation revealed that about 30 minutes after the shooting, Washington reported to law enforcement that her white Jeep was stolen in an attempt to hinder Bethea’s apprehension after he committed a crime.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Scott Peterson at (609) 989-6406 or Sgt. Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997. 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.
July 2nd Trenton Shooting Victim Identified as Resident of Camden, NJ
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 7/3/2024
- 07/12/2024 Yoni Emmanuel Cruz-Rodrigez, Shooting
