Mercer County, Trenton

18-Year-Old Killed In Trenton Shooting

August 25, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department are investigating a shooting homicide that occurred this afternoon in the City of Trenton.  Police responded to the 100 block of Passaic Street on a report of shots fired at approximately 2:20 p.m.  Shortly thereafter, police were notified that a male had arrived at Capital Health System-Fuld with gunshot wounds and was in surgery.  That victim, 18-year-old Daron Cheston, was pronounced deceased approximately one hour later.  No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Karl Johnston at 609-989-6406. Tips can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

Five people have been killed in the month of August and a total of 19 killed within this year but the official count is 20 because a person has died from a 2018 shooting this year.

Last year was Trenton’s most deadly year on record with 40 murders and on August 25 last year the count was at 27.

Names of 2021* homicide victims: 

  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
  11. 7/14/2021 Pablo Herrera Chun, 53, Trenton, Shooting
  12. 7/19/2021 William Mitchell, 33, Trenton, Shooting
  13. 7/19/2021 Jermel Carter, 38, Trenton, Shooting
  14. 7/29/2021 Leonard Pettigrew, 58, Trenton, Shooting
  15. 7/30/2021 Shaquil Loftin, 23, Shooting, Trenton
  16. 8/01/2021 Daquan Basnight, 30, of Ewing, Shooting
  17. 8/13/2021 Javier Chaj-Ajtun, 33, of Trenton, Shooting
  18. 8/19/2021 Herberth Ramirez Pimentel, 37, of Trenton, Shooting
  19. 8/23/2021 Yanquai Edwards, 25, of Rancocas, NJ, Shooting
  20. 8/25/2021 Daron Cheston, 18, Trenton, Shooting

*Updated to reflect the person who died in 2021 from complications from a shooting on May 14, 2018 as per medical examiner report.

The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department investigating a shooting on Passaic Street. Photos by: Dennis Symons