Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said Monday that a citywide curfew implemented in early April will remain in effect following another violent few days in the city.
“It is disheartening to see the loss of life because of petty grievances and domestic violence,” Gusciora said, announcing more police enforcement in certain areas.
Homicide detectives were at work Monday morning in South Trenton, on Daymond Street, where Antwuan Bowens, 44, was shot dead at around 9 a.m. They were there Saturday night too, when another shooting on the small street wounded two men and killed 38-year-old Robert Smith.
No arrests or charges were announced in the two killings
But in between them, detectives were in the city’s West Ward to find out who fatally shot 18-year-old Tayvion Jones as he stood in the front of his Oakland Street home at about 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Horace Jones
Late Monday, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said a murder charge had been filed against Horace Jones, 34, for allegedly killing Tayvion Jones.
Trenton police officers apprehended the suspect in the area shortly after the shooting, the prosecutor’s office said earlier Monday. (The suspect and victim are not related.)
Gusciora implemented an 8 p.m curfew on April 6, a day after a violent weekend that including a single night of shootings that killed three and wounded four. The curfew applied evenly to residents, who cannot be on city streets or sidewalks, and businesses, which have to close.
Vehicular traffic was restricted too, except for essential travel. The mayor hoped the curfew would also help in stemming the spread of the coronavirus.
Three weeks later, Gusciora said it was working, citing a sizable drop in violent crime, especially during the curfew hours from, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
And last week, starting May 11, the mayor eased it a bit, allowing residents to be out in public until 9 p.m. and some businesses to be open until 10 p.m.
That will now stay in place, Gusciora said Monday. He said Trenton police issued 61 citations for curfew violations this past weekend.
Police Director Sheilah Coley, in a statement, announced more enforcement in areas that have large crowd gatherings or history of sustained violence.
“We are monitoring this pattern of violence on an hourly basis,” Coley said. “We have concentrated our efforts in areas that have caused problems for residents and we will meet the expectation to increase patrols when needed. We are grateful that through our investigative efforts, we have made two arrests and following leads on the other two incidents.”
Gusciora and Coley, though, reiterated a statement of mayors and police directors past - that Trenton cannot rely on “arresting our way out of neighborhood violence.”
“This will take a concerted effort on neighborhood groups, community leaders and residents themselves who need to work together to help stem future acts of violence,” the mayor said. "In the end, we also need personal responsibility for everyone to stay safe and avoid conflicts. I get that many have lost hope, but by working together we can clean up the city and bring further economic opportunities for our young residents.”
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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.