Day: August 3, 2022

South Brunswick Police Seek Information

August 3, 2022

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Police say that at 2:00 p.m. South Brunswick Police responded to Route 130 near Dayton Toyota for a woman yelling for help. A witness said a female was in a white tractor-trailer cab yelling for help. The witness said the female was bleeding from her face. The male truck driver pulled her back into the cab and the truck headed Route 130 south getting off at the Ridge Road ext.

Victim – White / Hispanic female, in her 20s, long brown hair, brown flannel shirt

Actor – White male, older, bald, white beard, blue shirt

Detectives have recovered videos showing the tractor-trailer cab on Route 130.

ANY INFO CALL SOUTH BRUNSWICK POLICE (732) 329-4646



17-Year-Old Charged With First Degree Murder, Robbery And Other Charges, After Allegedly Killing Beloved Deli Owner In Ewing Township


The juvenile was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant on June 21, 2022. At the time of that arrest, Detectives noticed that he was wearing the same sneakers observed in the surveillance video from June 6. They also observed what appeared to be dried blood on the juvenile’s sneakers. On July 29, 2022, Homicide Task Force Detectives received the results of laboratory analysis conducted by the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences that identified the blood on the juvenile’s shoes to be a DNA match to the 57-year-old victim who was shot inside the deli.


August 3, 2022

EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A Trenton teenager has been arrested and charged for the June 6, 2022, shooting death of Oscar Palacios, of Trenton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today.

The 17-year-old Trenton male is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, and firearms offenses. He is being held in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Ewing Police Department. At approximately 6:10 a.m. on Monday, June 6, Ewing police responded to Priori’s Deli, 301 Hillcrest Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to the hospital where 54-year-old Oscar Palacios was pronounced deceased. The second victim, a 57- year-old Trenton man, was hospitalized and later released. The two men are brothers and employees of the deli.

At approximately 6:00 am that morning, the victims opened the deli and shortly thereafter the juvenile entered the deli, wearing a dark mask covering his face, and ordered food. The juvenile pointed a handgun at the victims and demanded money. The juvenile fired the gun, grazing the 57-year-old victim’s forehead. A physical struggle ensued between the victim and the juvenile, during which the juvenile shot the victim in the abdomen. The juvenile then fired again, striking Oscar Palacios in the chest. The juvenile then fled the area on a bicycle.

The juvenile was identified through surveillance video from the surrounding area from the time of the shooting. On the surveillance video, he could be seen riding a multi-colored mountain bike and wearing a black jacket and white sneakers with the word “AIR” in large letters on the side.

The juvenile was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant on June 21, 2022. At the time of that arrest, Detectives noticed that he was wearing the same sneakers observed in the surveillance video from June 6. They also observed what appeared to be dried blood on the juvenile’s sneakers. On July 29, 2022, Homicide Task Force Detectives received the results of laboratory analysis conducted by the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences that identified the blood on the juvenile’s shoes to be a DNA match to the 57-year-old victim who was shot inside the deli.

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



File photos by: Brian McCarthy



Friends and relatives left items for a memorial in front of the deli. File photo by: Brian McCarthy


Lacey Township Man Charged With Narcotics And Intent To Distribute

August 3, 2022

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Lacey Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics in Ocean County. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified a residence in Lacey Township as being used by Douglas Ward, 59, of Lacey, to store and distribute cocaine.

On July 28, 2022, Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies established stationary and mobile surveillance on the subject residence. Ward was observed by Detectives leaving the residence and meeting with an individual later identified as Thomas Prosser, 60, of Bayville. Detectives approached Ward and Prosser, and both individuals were taken into custody.

At the time of his arrest, Ward found to be in possession of several small bags containing cocaine. Additionally, a court authorized search warrant was executed on Ward’s Lacey Township residence, resulting in the seizure of approximately 70 additional grams of cocaine, and nearly $20,300 in United States Currency.

Ward was charged with Possession of more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Prosser was charged with Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), and Wandering in a Public Place to Obtain or Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2.1b. Prosser was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Lacey Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).



Third Teen Arrested for September 2021 Bellevue Avenue Shooting in Trenton

August 3, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced today that a third teenager has been arrested in a September shooting on Bellevue Avenue in Trenton that claimed the lives of 15-year-old Shemiah Davis and 19-year-old Candice Ruff.

A 16-year-old male from Trenton has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, theft by receiving stolen property, and firearms offenses. He was taken into custody in Trenton by members of the Trenton Police Department on July 25, 2022. He is being held in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.

Almere Barnes, 17, of Trenton, and Isaiah Lee, 16, of Hamilton, were previously charged as juveniles in December 2021 with the same offenses. On June 23, 2022, the Family Court granted the State’s motion for waiver of jurisdiction to the Superior Court, Law Division, Criminal Part, and Barnes and Lee were formally charged as adults. Both have been ordered detained.

These charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department. At approximately 6:45 p.m. on September 25, 2021, Trenton Police responded to a Shot Spotter activation for multiple rounds in the first block of Bellevue Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers identified two victims at the scene. Davis suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. She was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. Ruff suffered gunshot wounds to her head and died as a result of her injuries on October 4. Two additional victims arrived at the hospital by private vehicle, including a 17-year-old who was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. Through video surveillance and witness statements, detectives were eventually able to identify all three suspects who participated in these murders.

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