Trenton, N.J. – The New Jersey State Police have charged three men with attempted murder, and a woman has been charged with weapons offenses and obstructing justice in connection with an incident in Trenton on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in which the men allegedly fired a gun at a police officer.
According to a statement released by NJ State Police, Mr. Dion Battle, 28, Mr. Shaiquan A. Hearns, 20, and Mr. Yahonatan R. Salter, 28, all of Trenton, were each charged with the following offenses:
Attempted Murder (1st degree)
Conspiracy (1st degree)
Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (1st degree—Based on fact that all three have prior convictions for crimes under the No Early Release Act)
Possession of a Weapon as a Convicted Felon (2nd degree)
Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose (2nd degree)
Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree)
NJ State Police officials say Ms. Tameka V. Flemming, 30, of Trenton, N.J. was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (two counts, 2nd degree), Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree), Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function (4th degree), and Unlawful Possession of a Large-Capacity Magazine (4th degree).
Based on the preliminary investigation, at approximately 2:17 p.m., a Hamilton Township police officer assigned to the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit Task Force observed a shooting in progress in the area of West State Street and Parkside Avenue in Trenton.
The officer, who was operating an unmarked vehicle, followed the suspect vehicle to the area of the Oakland Park Apartments on Coolidge Avenue, where he was fired upon by the occupants of the vehicle, who allegedly were Battle, Hearns, and Salter.
The task force car was struck, but the officer was not injured. When the suspect vehicle stopped, the occupants fled on foot.
Salter was arrested outside, while Battle and Hearns fled into the apartment where Flemming lives at the Oakland Park Apartments. Flemming was arrested by police when she attempted to leave the apartment with two handguns partially concealed in a small backpack.
A loaded large-capacity magazine also was found in the backpack. Battle and Hearns were arrested inside the apartment.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, which assisted the New Jersey State Police with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time.
All four defendants are being held in the Mercer County Jail pending detention hearings.
The first-degree charge of attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison, while the other first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
The first-degree charges carry a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, with the exception of the first-degree charge of unlawful possession of a handgun, which carries a mandatory period of 10 years of parole ineligibility.
Second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, with parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater.
Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory term of five years of parole ineligibility. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.