Mercer County, Trenton

Investigation Leads to Arrest of Trenton Man for Christmas Day Arson That Killed Two People and Left Multiple People Homeless

There have been 39 Homicides recorded so far in Trenton for 2021, in 2020 there were a record 40 homicides listed.

December 27, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today that an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Arson Unit and the Trenton Police Department has led to the arrest of a Trenton man responsible for the Christmas Day fire on Rusling Street that killed two people.

Ronal Ordonez-Lima, 28, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated arson and five counts of arson.  He was charged on Monday and transported to the Mercer County Correction Center.  The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Ordonez-Lima pending trial.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 25, 2021, Trenton Communications received a 911 call for a fire at 221 Rusling Avenue with people trapped inside.  The Trenton Fire Department arrived on scene and began efforts to extinguish the fire, which spread to five additional houses and multiple vehicles in the immediate vicinity.

There were six occupants of 221 Rusling Street at the time of the fire, four of whom escaped the residence.  Firefighters located two deceased adults on the second floor.  The victims have been identified as Selvin Lima and Dilman Canpos, both adult males.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the area and speaking to witnesses, detectives determined that Ordonez-Lima set fire to the front porch of 221 Rusling Street.

The New Jersey State Fire Marshal and the New Jersey State Police assisted with the investigation.  The Red Cross and the Trenton Department of Community Affairs responded to assist the victims that were displaced.

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

Ronal Ordonez-Lima, 28
Ronal Ordonez-Lima, 28, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated arson and five counts of arson.  He was charged on Monday and transported to the Mercer County Correction Center.  The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Ordonez-Lima pending trial.

Previous MidJersey.News story here:

Fatal Three Alarm Fire Burns 6 Row Homes in Trenton, Several Families Left Homeless on Christmas Morning

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
  21. 8/27/2021 Ziare Jones, Shooting
  22. 8/30/2021  Fred Davis, 43, Trenton, Shooting
  23. 9/06/2021  Shamiem Young, 26, Trenton, Shooting
  24. 9/17/2021  Jeff Charles, 37, Trenton, Shooting
  25. 9/25/2021  Shemiah Davis, 15, Trenton, Shooting
  26. 10/2/2021  Omar Burgess, 49, of Trenton, Shooting
  27. 10/3/2021  Elias Juarez Lopez, 31, of Princeton, Shooting
  28. 10/4/2021  Candice Ruff, 19, of Trenton, Shooting On September 25
  29. 10/7/2021  Douglas Munn, 50, of Trenton. Shooting
  30. 10/13/2021 Melvin Williams 26, of Trenton, Shooting
  31. 10/29/2021 Edwin Obdulio Gomez Interiano, 41, Shooting
  32. 10/29/2021 Everth Barrera, 56, of Ewing, Shooting
  33. 10/30/2021 Dartanian Ames of Lawrence, 41, Shooting
  34. 11/1/2021  Hector Torres, 43, of Trenton, Shooting on 10/31
  35. 11/17/2021 David Johnson, 39, of Trenton
  36. 12/11/2021 Michael Degrass of Trenton
  37. 12/18/2021Unidentified male, shot Garfield Ave
  38. 12/25/2021 Selvin Lima, Arson
  39. 12/25/2021 Dilman Canpos, Arson

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

Photos by: Brian McCarthy and Michael Ratcliffe