Two Charged in Connection to Shimon Nesmith Homicide in Trenton on March 1, 2022

April 28, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced today that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in charges being filed against two Trenton residents in connection to last month’s double shooting that resulted in the death of Shimon Nesmith Jr.

Quashawn Hightower, 23, and Desire Knighton, 21, are each charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault and multiple weapons offenses. Both Hightower and Knighton are currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania on a weapons charge. The prosecutor’s office will file motions to detain both defendants pending trial.

Just after 3:30 p.m. on March 1, 2022, Trenton police received a Shot Spotter activation for 11 rounds fired in 1100 block of New Willow Street. Responding officers located a vehicle that had crashed into the side of 931 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the Life in the Word Outreach Ministry. The vehicle was heavily damaged and appeared to have numerous bullet holes. Nesmith, 19, of Trenton, was on scene suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later. A 21-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the face and was transported to the hospital by private vehicle.

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