TRENTON, N.J. – Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora is speaking out after a weekend block party erupted in gunfire, leaving two people dead and eight others wounded in the city’s Wilbur section.
Gusciora’s message blamed the instrument instead of the people behind the killing, which was used by an illegal gun, according to reports. Legal gun ownership at this time, is not the issue, yet the mayor, like many other New Jersey Democrats used the mass shooting as evidence against legal gun ownership, ignoring the root causes of inner city violence in Democrat controlled cities across the state.
Police were called to the area of 194 Locust Street shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday after reports of multiple shots fired. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is leading the investigation, with authorities saying multiple gunmen approached a gathering of roughly 100 people and opened fire.
Investigators recovered more than 50 spent shell casings from the 100 block of Locust Street. A 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were killed, while eight other adults were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and stabilized.
Mayor Says Trenton Woke Up to a Painful Reminder of Gun Violence
In a statement released Sunday, Gusciora described the shooting as “a devastating act of gun violence” and said the city would fully support the homicide investigation.
“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.
The mayor also thanked the law enforcement agencies that rushed to Trenton as the scale of the shooting became clear. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police and agencies from Ewing, Lawrence and Hamilton assisted Trenton officers.
- Two people were killed and eight others wounded in the Locust Street shooting early Sunday.
- Investigators recovered more than 50 spent shell casings after multiple suspects allegedly fired into a block party attended by about 100 people.
- No arrests had been announced as investigators reviewed surveillance video and searched for witnesses.
“We are grateful for their immediate response, professionalism and continued partnership,” Gusciora said of the agencies that responded. “Incidents of this magnitude demand coordination across jurisdictions.”
How many people were shot at the Trenton block party?
Ten adults were shot. A 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man died, while eight other victims — six men and two women between 23 and 43 years old — were treated at the hospital and stabilized.
Mayor Says One Victim Had Been Trying to Turn His Life Around
Gusciora’s statement also offered a glimpse beyond the numbers attached to the mass shooting.
The mayor said city officials were still learning about the people caught in the gunfire and noted that one of the two people killed had been working to turn his life around after returning home from incarceration.
“We understand that one of the individuals who lost his life had been working to turn his life around after returning home from incarceration and had recently been recognized for his commitment to reentry and positive change,” Gusciora said.
The mayor did not identify that victim in the statement.
That detail, Gusciora said, was an example of how the human toll of a shooting can be more complicated than what appears in an initial police report.
The mayor’s statement also comes after other episodes of gun violence in Trenton this summer. In June, city officials reported seven people were wounded in a shooting near Centre and Federal streets.
Have police arrested anyone in the Locust Street mass shooting?
No arrests had been announced in the initial investigation. Detectives were reviewing surveillance footage and working to locate witnesses who may have seen the shooters approach or leave the block party.
More Than 50 Shell Casings Recovered From Locust Street
The scale of the crime scene gives investigators plenty of physical evidence, but also a difficult task.
According to the original report on the shooting, the crime scene stretched across the 100 block of Locust Street. More than 50 spent shell casings were recovered, and multiple vehicles were struck by gunfire.
The preliminary investigation indicated multiple suspects walked toward the large gathering and fired into the crowd.
With approximately 100 people reportedly at the party, detectives are now trying to find witnesses and obtain surveillance footage that could help identify the shooters.
The Trenton Police Crime Scene Unit processed the scene, while Ewing police helped with crowd control.
Gusciora said the city will continue supporting the investigation and the people affected by the shooting.
“This tragedy is a reminder of why our work to prevent gun violence, support reentry, strengthen neighborhood outreach, and expand opportunities for our young people must continue,” the mayor said.
How can witnesses provide information about the shooting?
Anyone with information can contact Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detective Jennifer Eyster at 609-989-6406. Anonymous information can also be submitted through the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office website.
The Locust Street investigation remains active, with authorities trying to determine who fired into the gathering and what led to the shooting.
Sources: Shore News Network original reporting on the Locust Street mass shooting; City of Trenton Office of Mayor W. Reed Gusciora statement issued Aug. 30, 2026; Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office investigation
