February 22, 2022
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A Trenton man was recently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the May 2019 murder of Maurice Rowe, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced.
Hamilton Morgan, was sentenced by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta on February 17. A jury found Morgan guilty of all counts in August 2021. After the conviction, the state moved for mandatory extended-term sentencing under New Jersey’s Three Strikes Law. Judge Pereksta also sentenced Morgan to concurrent terms of 10 years on the firearms possession charge and the certain persons not to possess a weapon charge.
Just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, a Trenton Police Street Crimes Unit was responding to an unrelated call on Hoffman Avenue when they heard shots fired. Detectives John Carrigg and Stephen Szbanz observed a large group of people at the corner of Stuyvesant and Hoffman avenues and the suspect, later identified as Morgan, fleeing the scene with a gun. The detectives pursued Morgan on foot down an alley and were able to take him into custody on Ellsworth Avenue. A handgun was located and an additional loaded magazine was found on Morgan’s person.
The victim was identified as 30-year-old Maurice Rowe of Trenton. He was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.
Administrative Assistant Prosecutor Stacey M. Geurds and Assistant Prosecutor Narline Casimir prosecuted the case for the state. Administrative Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen M. Petrucci represented the state at sentencing.
