2 dead, 8 wounded in shooting at ‘unauthorized adult gathering’ in New Jersey—suspect at large

At approximately 12:25 am, police were called to the intersection of Locust Street and Chambers Street following multiple reports of gunfire. Authorities confirmed that 11 people were shot, nine of whom were hospitalized with injuries.

Police also taped off an entrance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, roughly two miles away from where the shooting took place. A vehicle parked at an emergency room entrance with visible damage was seen being towed away.

Law enforcement is working to determine who fired the shots and is asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora explained that the incident occurred during a “large, unauthorized adult gathering involving hundreds of people on a residential street.” He added that an estimated 200 or more individuals were present.

“My heart goes out to the families of the two people whose lives were taken, to everyone who was wounded, and to the residents of the Wilbur Section who awoke this morning to another painful reminder of the consequences of gun violence,” Gusciora said.

Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims, though Gusciora revealed that one was an individual who had previously been incarcerated and had been recognized for working to turn his life around.

“His story is an important reminder of why we do this work: people can change, people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives, and it is especially heartbreaking when a life moving in a different direction is cut short by violence,” the mayor said.

The shooting comes after the city implemented an emergency curfew earlier this month following a string of violent crimes. The curfew called for businesses on East State Street between West Canal and South Broad to close between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. on the weekends, according to CBS News.