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: