Mercer County, Trenton

30 Year-Old Trenton Man Arrested In Murder of 16-Year-Old Dion Ellis

July 9, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today that an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force has led to the arrest of a Trenton man for the recent shooting death of 16-year-old Dion Ellis.

Keith N. Jordan, 30, was taken into custody in Trenton Friday morning by members of the MCHTF, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.  He is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.  The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Jordan pending trial.

On Monday, July 5, 2021, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Trenton police responded to the area of Prospect Street and Stuyvesant Avenue on the report of a shooting.  One victim, later identified as 16-year-old Ellis, was found shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.  A second 16-year-old male was transported to the hospital and treated for a gunshot wound to the leg.

An initial canvas of the scene produced eight shell casings.  Area video surveillance was reviewed and a suspect vehicle was identified, which was traced back to Jordan.

As a result of a search warrant being executed on Jordan’s 2016 Toyota Camry, he is also charged with obstruction and multiple weapons offenses.  Detectives recovered a 9mm handgun with a 33-round extended magazine, hollow-point bullets, and an empty 10-round magazine.

The investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to call HTF Detective Shawn Bruton at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Previous MidJersey.News stories here:

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

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

  • Keith N. Jordan, 30
Keith N. Jordan, 30, was taken into custody in Trenton Friday morning by members of the MCHTF, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.  He is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.  The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Jordan pending trial.
16-year-old Dion Ellis was a City of Trenton Lifeguard shown here with friends and other lifeguards.

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.