A fugitive wanted in connection with a fatal shooting that took place in Elizabeth last month has been apprehended in South Jersey, according to a joint announcement made Wednesday by acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, and city Police Director Earl Graves.
Officials said, James McNair, 43, of Elizabeth is charged with first-degree murder and two related weapons offenses in connection with the death of 21-year-old Trevon A. Palin, a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Members of the Elizabeth Police Department responding to the rear yard of a home on the 1000 block of Anna Street on Thursday, May 13 found Palin at that location, having sustained multiple injuries, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza, who is prosecuting the case.
Palin was later pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation into the shooting, led by the Union County Homicide Task Force and assisted by members of the Elizabeth Police Department, Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit resulted in McNair being identified as a suspect in the case, and he was criminally charged in absentia on Monday, May 24.
McNair remained at large until yesterday, when he was arrested following a routine patrol stop in Camden, having been found to have allegedly been in possession of a quantity of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
He was subsequently transported back to Union County for processing.
The Prosecutor’s Office would like to recognize and thank the Elizabeth Police Department for its work on this investigation; the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the search for McNair; and the Camden County Police Department for effectuating the arrest.
Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Christopher Scuorzo at 908-472-0492 or Detective Ryan Kirsh at 908-347-1420.
Convictions on crimes of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to life in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.