By: Richard L. Smith
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri has announced that a joint investigation is underway following a fatal shooting and car accident in Trenton last night.
Mercer County Homicide Task Force (MCHTF), the Mercer County Serious Collision Response Team (SCRT), and the Trenton Police Department are all involved in the investigation.
The incident occurred on July 12th at approximately 10:20 p.m., when Trenton Communications received multiple calls reporting an accident involving an overturned vehicle near Garfield and Farragut Avenues.
Emergency personnel arrived to find a white Durango overturned at the scene.
Inside the vehicle, they discovered Johny Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, along with two minor children who were unharmed and secured in car seats.
According to witnesses, Cruz-Rodriguez was standing at the open back of the Durango when an unidentified suspect entered the vehicle and attempted to drive away.
Cruz-Rodriguez tried to climb into the rear of the vehicle, at which point witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots.
The vehicle then crashed a short distance away.
Cruz-Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:39 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact MCHTF Detective Chris Pullen at (848) 992-6436 or Sgt. Will Jett at (609) 331-5010. Tips can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.
