By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in charges being filed against three individuals in connection with the November 2023 shooting homicide of Leroy Tutt.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri stated Jerrod Baldwin, 41, of Ewing, and Kellen Dingman, 41, of Ewing, are each charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder.
According to officials, Eric Bell, 44, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and third-degree hindering apprehension.
All three men were taken into custody earlier this week in various locations in New Jersey by members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, authorities say.
Officials say they are being held at the Mercer County Correction Center pending detention hearings.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023, officials said Trenton police responded to the first block of Oliver Avenue for a ShotSpotter activation.
Responding officers arrived on the scene to discover an adult male on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshots to the torso, officials stated.
The victim was lying next to a burgundy Chrysler Sebring with an open trunk, officials say.
Authorities say officers observed numerous spent shell casings inside of the truck.
Officials said the victim, later identified as Leroy Tutt, 37, of Trenton, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing.