Mercer County Authorities along with The NJ State Police are continuing an investigation into a violent shootout that had police officers from Trenton engaged in a gun battle with alleged gang suspects who were already shooting at each other at a late night Arts Festival in Trenton.
Authorities are currently attempting to piece together the circumstances behind the incident and only released preliminary information Sunday evening at a press conference.
Police say at approximately 2:45 a.m. officers already on active patrol in the vicinity of 635 South Clinton Avenue were alerted to several fights that broke out inside and outside the Roebling Market where the Arts All Night event was being held.
Officers arriving at the scene immediately requested backup after observing several males involved in fierce fist fights among each other with a crowd of over two hundred people surrounding and looking on.
Authorities from the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said as officers attempted to quell the physical violence, multiple rounds of gunfire erupted forcing them to take cover then return gunfire in the direction of the suspects.
The shooting caused an instant stampede with many from the crowd running for cover while several victims dropped to the ground suffering gunshot injuries.
Police say 17 people were shot and five suffered non-gunshot injuries during the shootout between officers and about four suspects.
Among the injured, police say **suspect Tahaij Well, 33, of Trenton** -pictured with blue background- was pronounced dead at the scene while three other suspects were transported to the hospital in critical condition, but they have since upgraded to stable condition. Authorities say Wells was just released on parole in 2018 for a felony conviction.
The final suspect, **Mr. Amir Armstrong -pictured in grey background-**, remains hospitalized in critical condition suffering gunshot wounds a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said.
Police say during their search of the crime scene, they found multiple high powered weapons used during what they described as a gang-related shootout.
Authorities would not say why the suspects chose the All Night Art Festival for their fight but did say that the incident remains under investigation.