Shooting Victim Dies At Hospital Becomes Trenton’s 26 Homicide of 2020

MidJersey.News stories on this shooting:

August 23, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office confirms that Vernetta McCray, 39, was pronounced dead. The shooting occurred in a scene that has become all too common in the City of Trenton, she was on her porch and became a victim of a yet another drive by shooting on Friday night.

According from a statement by the Prosecutor’s Office “Trenton police responded to the area of the 300 block of Walnut Street last night around 8:50 pm after receiving a Shot Spotter activation for more than 20 rounds fired. While searching for a scene, they discovered an adult female on the porch of a Hampton Avenue residence bleeding from her head.”

She was transported by Trenton EMS and Capital Health Paramedics to The Trauma Center At Capital Health Regional Medical Center where she died Saturday night.

Politicians provide lip service but the shootings and killings continue in Trenton:

Governor Murphy said, “Vernetta McCray has worked for the Department of Children and Families for over a decade, gaining the respect of her colleagues and serving countless children and families in Mercer County. This tragedy is yet another reminder of the toll that senseless gun violence takes on our communities. Our prayers are with Vernetta, her family, and her loved ones at this difficult time.” –Governor Murphy

Back on June 3, 2020 City Council President Kathy McBride said at a press conference on another shooting involving children: ” This is just tragedy upon tragedy in this city. Enough Is Enough! I had all I can stand and as a parent I do not want to put up with it any longer, if you want to part of a solution lets sit down and come up with some ideas.”

Back on May 18, 2020 Mayor W. Reed Gusciora condemned an outbreak of violence over that weekend and pledged further police enforcement to address fears of escalating conflict in neighborhoods across the City. “Across urban America we see all too often that guns are indiscriminately used to spark neighborhood violence. Since Trenton is not immune to these events, our police department is working closely with state and county agencies to curb these unlawful incidents.”

On April 5, 2020 Mayor Gusciora held a press conference to address April 5th violence in the community “Mayor of Trenton, W. Reed Gusciora said, “Yesterday was Palm Sunday, yet it was anything other than peaceful in the Capital City. In at least four separate incidents of gun violence, there were 8 people shot and 2 are dead and 1 fighting for her life. ”

Trenton murders per year as of August 22, 2020 there have been 26 murders in Trenton, NJ

Names of Trenton’s murder victims of 2020:

SAY THEIR NAMES:

January 30, 2020, Starquasia Harris, 24, shooting
February 16, 2020, Maurice London, 39, shooting
March 23, 2020, Danavan Phillips, 37, shooting
March 25, 2020, Yuell Moore, 29, shooting
April 5, 2020 Quamiera Massey, 24, shooting
April 5, 2020 Dabree Brannon, 30, shooting
April 5, 2020 Frederick Mason, 20, shooting
May 14, 2020, pronounced dead May 21, 2020 Terrence Horton, 53, shooting
May 17, 2020, Robert Smith, 38, shooting
May 18, 2020 Antwuan Bowens, 44, shooting
May 18, 2020 Tayvion Jones, 18, shooting
May 21, 2020 Raheen McKinnon 19, shooting
May 23, 2020, Watson Cogdell, 58, shooting
May 30, 2020 Tyrone Campbell, 45, shooting
June 2, 2020 Dontae Barnes, shooting
June 21, 2020, Robert Neal, 34, stabbing
July 1, 2020, Covvie Scott, 24, shooting
July 8, 2020, Richard Guarderas, 18, shooting
July 8, 2020, Malcom L. Bowser, 19, shooting
July 15, 2020, Jason Phillips, 23, shooting
July 17, 2020, Luis Gonzalez, 37, shooting
August 2, 2020 died August 5, 2020, Jolisa Marshall, 28, shooting (of Hamilton)
August 9, 2020, William Irrizarry, 18, shooting
August 9, 2020, Julius Vargas, 18, shooting
August 17, 2020, Rahkeem Ortiz, 29, shooting
August 21, 2020, Vernetta McCray, 39, drive by shooting (died August 22, 2020)
X 1970 record
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X 2005 record
X 2014 record
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X Trenton’s record of homicides in 2013
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Not in NJ but across the river in Falls Township, Pennsylvania May 24, 2020 Davon Frink, 25, shooting at a Holiday Inn Express at a Trenton party held there.

Trenton Murders Per Year Since 1989

NJ State Police Uniform Crime Report available here: https://www.njsp.org/ucr/uniform-crime-reports.shtml

1989 = 22

1990 = 21

1991 = 7

1992 = 16

1993 = 11

1994 = 9

1995 = 16

1996 = 14

1997 = 12

1998 = 15

1999 = 8

2000 = 14

2001 = 13

2002 = 19

2003 = 13

2004 = 18

2005 = 31

2006 = 18

2007 = 25

2008 = 19

2009 = 18

2010 = 15

2011 = 23

2012 = 24

2013 = 37

2014 = 32

2015 = 17

2016 = 21

2017 = 23

2018 = 16

2019 = 15

2020 = 26* current number as of August 22, 2020 (not available yet by NJSP)

CHECK OUT THE LIST OF MIDJERSEY.NEWS STORIES ON CITY OF TRENTON 2020 SHOOTINGS, GUN VIOLENCE, STABBINGS AND HOMICIDES HERE:

And the list grows: Other Recent Trenton Shooting and Homicide Stories: (There has been a lot more gun violence, stabbings and shootings but these are ones we have enough information to report on)

Shooting Victim Dies At Hospital Becomes Trenton’s 26 Homicide of 2020

See MidJersey.News update here: UPDATE: Trenton: Woman Shot In Head Last Night In Critical Condition

See last night’s MidJersey.News story here: BREAKING: Trenton, Female Shot In Head, Trauma Alert Called En Route To Hospital

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Names Released In This Morning’s Double Shooting

Trenton’s Homicide Body County Now At 24 For 2020, Law Enforcement Officials Plan To Deploy More Law Enforcement

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