Mercer County Homicide Task Force Investigation Leads to Arrest of Trenton Man for Shooting Homicide

December 2, 2021

EWING TWP (MERCER)– Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today that an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Ewing Police Department has led to the arrest of a Trenton man for Monday’s murder of Cedric Hennessee Flippin in Ewing Township.

Daryl K. Smith, 30, was arrested Thursday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport on an airplane departing for North Carolina by members of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and second- degree certain persons not to possess a firearm. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Smith pending trial.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. on November 29, 2021, Ewing police were dispatched to Public Storage on Parkside Avenue in Ewing. Officers arrived on scene and located Flippin unresponsive on the ground outside of one of the storage lockers. Detectives located a shell casing nearby and Flippin was pronounced dead at the scene.

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


It appears that Daryl Smith and Cedric Hennessee Flippin were also arrested together and appear in this August 29, 2019 press release from the Jackson Township Police Department:

Jackson Police Department News Release from August 29, 2019

Investigation Results in Drugs and Gun Arrest

On Wednesday August 28, 2019 while working a Directed Enforcement Detail coordinated with a Drunk Driving Enforcement Detail (DDEF), officers and detectives assigned to the detail received information of possible narcotics activity at the Jackson Premium Outlets located off of Monmouth Road.

While conducting surveillance in the area, officers observed the suspect vehicle enter the parking lot and conducted a motor vehicle stop with it. As the three occupants of the vehicle were being secured, officers observed the front seat passenger of the vehicle attempting to reach for his waistband before complying with their orders. As he was taken into custody, a Beretta M9 9mm handgun was recovered from the front area of his waistband. The gun was secured and discovered to have a 15 round magazine which was fully loaded.

During a further search of the vehicle, five bricks of heroin (in excess of 2 ounces) packaged for sale was also recovered. The 3 male suspects were placed under arrest and the 2005 Ford van they were in was impounded pending forfeiture proceedings.

Arrested:

Daryl Smith, age 27 of Trenton NJ. He was charged with: possession of heroin and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

Cedric Hennessee-Flippin, age 27 of Trenton NJ. He was charged with: possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance while operating a motor vehicle.

Zaire Jackson, age 25 of Trenton NJ. He was charged with: possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, possession of hollow point bullets and possession of a magazine capable of holding in excess of 10 rounds.

All three arrested were processed and later lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

In addition to this incident, other officers working the evening detail, which also included Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers, conducted 69 motor vehicle stops, issued 45 summonses and impounded 2 vehicles.

– The media and the public are reminded that any persons arrested or charged with any offenses or crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Captain Steven Laskiewicz

Uniformed Services Division Commander

Public Information Officer

Jackson Police Department

August 29, 2019