Two people were killed and eight have been hospitalized after, officials said, 10 people were shot when gunfire erupted at a gathering — that may have been a cookout — in Trenton, New Jersey, overnight.
According to Captain David Ordille of the Trenton Police Department, the mass shooting happened around 12:25 a.m. along the 100 block of Locust Street in Trenton, New Jersey, when several people were injured in a shooting.
In a morning update, officials said, two people were killed and eight have been hospitalized.
Early Sunday morning, police had an entrance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, about two-miles away from the scene of the shooting, taped off and a vehicle that was parked at emergency room entrance to the facility was seen being towed away.
The vehicle had visible damage.
Outside the medical center, NBC Philadelphia’s Katy Zachry spoke to a woman who said her nephew was brought to the hospital after having been shot in the head.
Family and friends of victims who have spoken to NBC Philadelphia said that before the incident, people had gotten together for a neighborhood gathering and a cookout.
Then, at some point, the shooting started.
A woman who told NBC Philadelphia she was at the cookout, but asked to remain anonymous, said about 150 were at the event when they first heard shots.
She said after an initial volley of shots, the crowd thought the shooting was over, before it erupted again.
However, she did not know how many people were firing.
Details about victims in this shooting
In a morning update, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said the victims who died were a 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man.
However, unlike the mayor and police — who initially claimed nine people were hurt in the shooting — the prosecutor’s office, who are investigating the incident, claims eight people have been hospitalized after being injured in this shooting, two women and six men, ranging in age from 23 to 43 years old.
Asked about the inconsistency, officials said, the additional person was an individual that was hospitalized following crash that may have been tied to this incident.
Also, officials claim the shooting happened after “multiple suspects walked up to the party and began to fire into the crowd.”
In a statement on social media, Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora said one of the victims who died — though the mayor did not provide additional identifying information — had recently returned to the community after a period of 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,” the mayor wrote in a statement.
Gusciora estimated about 200 people were at the event when the shooting took place.
An investigation ‘in its infancy’
Also, on Sunday afternoon, Gusciora met with members of the press to discuss the investigation, saying the incident unfolded when an incident at an “unauthorized party,” that “got out of control.”
“The hearts of our city go out to the families and to the victims that took part to an unauthorized party that was then brought to our attention when it got out of control,” said the mayor.
Also, during the afternoon update, Steve Wilson, the police director for Trenton, New Jersey, said there was little to share as the investigation was still “in its infancy.”
Wilson said police were aware of the gathering and had been out to the area several times overnight. There may have even been police present at the scene when the shooting occurred, he said.
“That has yet to be confirmed, but I believe that’s where it’s going,” he said.
Typically, he said, police shut down large gatherings that are unregistered — officials said large gatherings require streets to be closed off and security to be hired — but in this case, that wasn’t done.
“This crowd was gathering up, so, it was ordered by the street supervisor that extra attention be provided here, but unfortunately the crowd was larger than the police presence,” he said. “And, even sometimes with the presence of police, these things happen. And, it’s unfortunate that it’s that way, but there are people in this city and others that are just dastardly and evil and it doesn’t matter who’s around, they are just intent on destruction.”
Asked why the gathering wasn’t shut down before the shooting occurred, Wilson said that will be part of the ongoing investigation.
At the scene early Sunday, investigators were seen placing over 50 evidence markers along the ground.
Also, on Sunday morning, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said she was briefed on the situation and the attorney general’s office was working with law enforcement officials on the ground as the investigation continued.
I have been briefed on the shooting early this morning in Trenton that initial reports indicate left two people dead and nine others injured. As local law enforcement continues to investigate, my Attorney General remains in close contact with officials on the ground.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) August 30, 2026
However, police did not immediately provide further information on any suspects in this case.
But, an investigation is ongoing.
NBC Philadelphia is working to learn more.
This story originally appeared on NBCPhiladelphia.com.
