By: Najla Alexander
NJ Attorney authorities announced that a Mercer County man who was convicted of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during the carjacking, two attempted carjackings resulting in serious bodily injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was sentenced today to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger stated that Cedrick Hodges, 41, of Trenton, was convicted on Oct. 24, 2023, of all five counts of a second superseding indictment following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
“On an evening in December 2017, Cedrick Hodges terrorized the people of Hamilton Township in a series of horrific and violent carjackings during which he shot two of his victims with a sawed-off shotgun at point blank range, inflicting on these victims permanent and life-altering injuries,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said.
“Our office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will spare no effort prosecuting violent offenders like Hodges. The sentence handed down today will ensure that this violent offender will never again be in a position to harm the people of New Jersey or anywhere else.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
NJ Attorney officials said that on the evening of Dec. 16, 2017, Hodges entered the rear passenger seat of a Toyota Camry and pointed a loaded sawed-off shotgun at the driver, demanding that she operate the vehicle while Hodges entered the rear seat.
The driver exited the vehicle and ran, in response to which Hodges discharged the shotgun towards her as she fled, officials say.
According to NJ Attorney officials, moments later, Hodges approached a Honda Accord occupied by a driver and one passenger. Hodges pointed the shotgun at the driver’s window, demanding that the driver and passenger exit the vehicle.
When the driver refused and instead began to drive the vehicle away from Hodges, Hodges discharged the firearm into the driver’s side window, striking the driver in his torso and causing permanent and serious bodily injury, Trenton officials stated.
NJ Attorney authorities stated that Hodges fled the area and several minutes later approached a man who was entering a Nissan Rogue. Hodges demanded that the man hand Hodges the keys to the Nissan Rogue.
When the man refused, Hodges brandished the shotgun and discharged the firearm at the man, causing permanent and serious bodily injury, Trenton officials said.