Day: September 2, 2023

Burlington, Evesham Township

Jury Finds Evesham Man Guilty of Killing Friend and his Dog

September 2, 2023

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a 26-year-old Evesham man was found guilty Thursday in Superior Court of fatally stabbing a friend, as well as his dog, while robbing him in early 2022.

After deliberating for just over an hour, a jury returned guilty verdicts against Donovan G. Hollingsworth on charges of Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree), Cruelty to Animals (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree). The Hon. Christopher J. Garrenger, J.S.C., scheduled sentencing for October 27 at the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly. Hollingworth has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest a few hours after the slayings.

The investigation began the morning of February 5, 2022, when officers from the Evesham Township Police Department were called to the Olympus Apartments on Baker Boulevard for a report of a possible dog attack on a resident. When officers arrived, they discovered Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, deceased inside his residence with multiple stab wounds.

The victim’s dog, a Cane Corso named Django, was found dead – also with stab wounds – on a stairwell landing. The investigation revealed that Hollingsworth traveled to Pierson’s apartment with the intention of robbing him. An altercation ensued, during which Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django. Hollingsworth fled and was later taken into custody by Evesham Township police officers at the emergency room of Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where he had gone for treatment of minor injuries.

The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Evesham Township Police (NJ) Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Sergeant Brian Cunningham and ETPD Detective Joseph Magnus.

Hollingsworth was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors Bob VanGilst and Jasmine Bealor. Assistant Prosecutor VanGilst supervises the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.

After deliberating for just over an hour, a jury returned guilty verdicts against Donovan G. Hollingsworth on charges of Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree), Cruelty to Animals (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree). The Hon. Christopher J. Garrenger, J.S.C., scheduled sentencing for October 27 at the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly. Hollingworth has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest a few hours after the slayings.

Mercer County, Trenton

Shooting Victim Identified In Brunswick Avenue Homicide

September 2, 2023

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department are investigating a shooting homicide in Trenton.

A few minutes after midnight on Saturday, September 2, 2023, Trenton police responded to the 200 block of Brunswick Avenue on a report of a male shot.  Responding officers arrived on scene to discover an unresponsive male in a vacant lot appearing to suffer from a gunshot wound.  The victim was transported to Capital Heath Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.  The victim has been identified as Ronald Taylor, 40, of Trenton.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Jennifer Eyster at (609) 989-6406 or Sgt. Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997.  Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

Names of the 2023 Trenton Homicide Victims

  1. 1/16/2023 Donnell Williams, 29, Trenton, Shooting.
  2. 2/12/2023 Stephanie Vil, 34, of Burlington, Shooting.
  3. 2/16/2023 Khalil Glanton, 23, Trenton, Stabbing.
  4. 3/24/2023 Harold Rosario, 19, Trenton, Shooting.
  5. 3/26/2023 Nyeisha Saunders, 41, Trenton, Shooting.
  6. 4/09/2023 Jhosse Tolentino, 23, Trenton, Shooting
  7. 4/12/2023 Jared Anderson, Trenton, Shooting (died May 29)
  8. 4/14/2023 Daniel Garvin, 46, Trenton, Shooting
  9. 4/20/2023 Ralph Conquest, 43, of Lawrence, Shooting
  10. 5/14/2023 Roger Martinez-Rodriguez, 27, Trenton, Stabbing
  11. 5/14/2023 Justin Reed, 24, of Ewing, Shooting (died May 22)
  12. 5/26/2023 Sherief Treadwell, 36, Trenton, Shooting
  13. 6/09/2023 Markell Biggs, 20, Trenton, Shooting
  14. 6/11/2023 Shaquan Brown, 23, Trenton, Shooting
  15. 6/15/2023 James Junior Journigan, 36, Shooting
  16. 6/15/2023 Louis Washington, 38, Trenton, Shooting, (died June 17)
  17. 6/19/2023 Ernest Denard, 61, Stabbing
  18. 6/22/2023 Guillermo Sanchez, Shooting
  19. 7/01/2023 Precious Saunders, 32, of Trenton
  20. 8/23/2023 Taquan Foxworth, 29, of Trenton, Shooting 8/19
  21. 9/02/2023 Ronald Taylor, 40, of Trenton, Shooting
Mercer County, Trenton

Multiple-Stabbing Reported On Chambers Street

September 2, 2023

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police reported that officers responded to the 600 Block of Chambers Street near Hamilton Ave. (across from St. Francis Medical Center) for a multiple stabbing around 1:30 a.m. Trenton Police found parties intoxicated and fighting on the porch. A total of three victims were found with non-life-threatening lacerations. Numerous broken bottles were also observed.  Police have no suspect information at this time.

State of NJ

Kuwaiti Man, 18, Charged With Abusive Sexual Contact On LA to Newark Flight

September 2, 2023

NEWARK, N.J. – A Kuwaiti man appeared in federal court yesterday for alleged abusive sexual contact with a female passenger on a flight to Newark Liberty International Airport, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.

Hasan Naser Hussain Alenezi, 18, of Kuwait, is charged by complaint with one count of abusive sexual contact on an airplane. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond, with home detention and GPS monitoring.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

While on a Nov. 27, 2022, flight from Los Angeles, California, to Newark, Alenezi sat next to a female passenger, who was seated next to the window, instead of sitting in his assigned seat. Alenezi was unknown to the victim. While seated next to the victim, Alenezi repeatedly touched her groin and leg without her permission.

The abusive sexual contact charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Chung of the Office’s OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

23-254

Defense counsel: Carol Dominguez Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark

According to the Criminal Complaint attached below:

On or about November 27, 2022, defendant Hasan Naser Hussain Alenezi (“Alenezi”) was a male passenger aboard United States flight 645 (the “Flight”), departing from Los Angeles, California at approximately 10:55 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, and arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey at approximately 7:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, a flight commonly referred to as the “red eye,” given the timing.

A male passenger (“Passenger A”) was assigned to the middle seat in the same row as a female passenger (the “Victim”) who was seated in the window seat. However, upon boarding the aircraft, Alenezi sat in Passenger A’s seat, which was immediately adjacent to the Victim. Passenger A sat in Alenezi’s ticketed seat, which was in a different row. The Victim did not know Alenezi or Passenger A.

During the Flight, the Victim placed a blanket over her head in order to sleep. Some period of time later, the Victim awoke to find that Alenezi was tapping on her left leg. The Victim pushed Alenezi’s hand away, curled her legs and turned her body away from Alenezi, and tried to fall back asleep.

A short while later, the Victim was awoken again, this time to find that Alenezi had reached around the Victim’s curled legs and placed his hand on her groin on top of her clothing, without the Victim’s permission. Upon noticing Alenezi’s hand touching her groin, the Victim told Alenezi to stop, and that if he did not stop, she would report him to a flight attendant. The Victim repositioned her blanket to block her body from Alenezi.

At some point thereafter, the Victim felt Alenezi reach under the blanket and again touch her groin with his hand, without the Victim’s permission. Alenezi told the Victim, in sum and substance, “You know you want it,” at which point the Victim responded, “No I don’t.” The Victim, who was connected to the aircraft’s WiFi network, sent text messages to a close family member about the incident, who instructed the Victim to report Alenezi’s conduct to a flight attendant.

The Victim stood up from her seat and sought the assistance of a flight attendant (“Flight Attendant-1”). When the Victim told Flight Attendant-1 that Alenezi had touched her without her permission, Flight Attendant-1 relayed Alenezi’s complaint to the lead flight attendant (“Flight Attendant-2”), who moved the Victim to a new seat in the Business Class section for the remainder of the flight.

Alenezi.ComplaintDownload