Mercer County, Trenton

UPDATE: 16 Year Old Killed In Shooting Was City Of Trenton Lifeguard, Other 16 Year Old Shot In Leg

7/9/2021 UPDATE: 30 Year-Old Trenton Man Arrested In Murder of 16-Year-Old Dion Ellis

July 5, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)-Interim Trenton Police Director Steve E. Wilson today announced that the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place in the area of Prospect Street and Stuyvesant Avenue early this morning and injured two 16-year-old males, one fatally.

Police responded to the area of Prospect Street and Stuyvesant Avenue at approximately 12:45 a.m. and found two victims. Dion Ellis, 16, a City of Trenton lifeguard, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other individual is currently being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

The TPD urges anyone with information on this case to contact Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detective Shawn Bruton at 609-989-6406. Tips can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

“The Trenton Police Department is assisting the Mercer County Homicide Task Force in the effort to solve this horrible crime,” said Director Wilson. “When the lives of our young people are taken in this manner, I take it personally and will dedicate as many resources as possible to stemming the violence.”

“We’re seeing senseless violence touch us once again during a weekend when we should feel safe as we celebrate with friends and family,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “The city has lost not just a vibrant life, but one that protected our children.”

City Residents, Friends, Family and Co-workers plead “IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING PLEASE COME FORWARD”

Photo from Facebook provided

“I would like to offer my condolences to the Ellis Family. Dione was a first year lifeguard following in the footsteps of his father. He started off as a Pool Monitor last season and decided to try out for our lifeguard course. He worked hard and he passed.

Shame on the coward(s) that took his life. And shame on any Trentonian who has information and doesn’t speak out.”

Earlier MidJersey.News story here:

Trenton Shooting: One 16 Year Old Killed, Another 16 Year Old At Hospital

Shell casings landed across from 351 Prospect Street, West Ward Recreation Center. The location of casings are on Prospect Street between Stuyvesant Avenue and Frazier Street.

Names of 2021* homicide victims: (this may need to be adjusted)**

  1. 2/18/2021 Jabree Saunders, 26, from shooting on May 14, 2018
  2. 2/22/2021 Khalil Gibbs, 25, of West Windsor, shooting
  3. 2/25/2021 Lovelle Laramore, 60, of Trenton shooting
  4. 4/15/2021 Kaheem Carter, 22, of Trenton, shooting
  5. 4/20/2021 Shaquan McNeil, 25, of Trenton, shooting
  6. 4/24/2021 Cheryl Jones, 65, of Trenton, shooting
  7. 4/29/2021 Ramire Harvey, 25, of Trenton, shooting
  8. 5/15/2021 David Williams 36, of Trenton, shooting
  9. 5/29/2021 Edgar Geovani Sis-Luis, 34, of Trenton, aggravated manslaughter
  10. 7/05/2021 Dion Ellis, 16, Trenton, Shooting

*Updated to reflect the person who died in 2021 from the May 14, 2018 shooting.