Trenton, NJ — A 41-year-old man’s fatal shooting in Trenton last summer has led to a murder arrest, with authorities charging a 47-year-old suspect in connection to the August 2025 killing, Mercer County prosecutors announced.
Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson confirmed that Terrance Travers, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, receiving stolen property, and multiple weapons offenses following a joint investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Trenton Police.
Arrest made months after fatal Trenton shooting
Travers was arrested on April 13, 2026, in Pennsylvania by Falls Township police officers. He is currently being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending extradition back to New Jersey.
Authorities said the charges stem from a late-night shooting on August 29, 2025, that left Andrew Coates, 41, dead. The investigation remained active for months before leading to Travers’ arrest.
Gunfire incident involved multiple victims and crashes
According to prosecutors, the violence began around 11:25 p.m. near North Olden and Ohio avenues, where Trenton police were patrolling when a ShotSpotter alert detected multiple rounds fired.
As officers responded, their patrol vehicle was struck by a second vehicle driven by Coates, who had been shot and lost control of the car. He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Officials said the incident extended beyond the fatal shooting. A civilian at the scene was struck and injured by Coates’ vehicle and taken to the hospital. While detectives were at the hospital, a second shooting victim arrived with a gunshot wound to the right leg and was listed in stable condition.
Two Trenton police officers were also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Key Points
• Authorities arrested a 47-year-old man in connection with an August 2025 fatal shooting in Trenton
• The victim, Andrew Coates, died after being shot and crashing his vehicle near North Olden Avenue
• Multiple people, including officers and a bystander, were injured during the incident
Investigation linked multiple scenes and damage
Investigators determined that gunfire struck two unoccupied vehicles and a residence on Indiana Avenue during the incident. No injuries were reported inside the residence.
The case was handled by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force alongside the Trenton Police Department, with assistance from law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania, including Falls Township and Middletown Township police, as well as the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities have not released additional details about a possible motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that involved multiple victims, property damage, and officer injuries across several locations in the city. Officials have not indicated whether additional suspects may be involved.
Travers remains in custody in Pennsylvania as he awaits extradition proceedings. The investigation into the shooting and related incidents remains ongoing.
