Police, residents look for answers after violent Trenton weekend

Monday, September 12, 2016
VIDEO: Violent weekend in Trenton
Police are trying to determine if this is just a spike in violence or the new normal.

TRENTON (WPVI) -- The murder of a young woman in Trenton on Friday set off a deadly chain of events in the city over the weekend.

Police are trying to determine if this is just a spike in violence or the new normal.

The violence began Friday here on the 200 block of Spring Street when 20-year-old Keyauna Hughey was found shot to death inside her apartment, the victim of a robbery.

Fast forward to early Sunday morning.

First, a man was wounded in a drive-by shooting at Calhoun and Passaic.

Less than three hours later, two men were killed in a shooting at a Shell gas station at Greenwood and Chambers.

They were 20-year-old Kordrese Robinson and 16-year-old Jahday Twisdale. A 19-year-old was also wounded.

"The firearm is the great equalizer, if you will, and unfortunately, we have a lot of firearms that are in this city illegally," Trenton Police Director Ernie Parrey said.

Parrey says neighborhood disputes are a factor in both Sunday's double murder and drive-by shooting.

"Sad. Very sad. Because of all the killing. My grandson just got shot to death in April," Trenton resident Helen Johnson told Action News.

Her grandson, 26-year-old Jermaine Johnson, was gunned down in a driveway. His uncle says there are too many guns and young people ready to use them.

"Violence, drugs. All that plays a part, you know? They don't care about themselves, they not going to care about nobody else," James Johnson said.

The police director is asking the public for help, reminding everyone that information can be given anonymously by going to TrentonPolice.com and clicking on the "My Block" tab.

"Making our plea to them: hey, you need to be involved. If you know something you really need to let us know," Parrey said.

Police have identified two suspects in the shooting of Keyauna Hughey. They are already in jail in Pennsylvania on other charges.

Police are still looking for information on the two Sunday shootings and a stabbing that took place at a laundromat on South Clinton Avenue Monday morning.