A shooting late Friday night in Trenton left one man dead and multiple others injured, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities said officers were patrolling near North Olden and Ohio avenues around 11:25 p.m. on Aug. 29 when a ShotSpotter alert indicated multiple rounds had been fired.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Spruce Street and Ohio Avenue.
As two officers approached a man standing next to a double-parked Volvo, a vehicle driven by a shooting victim crashed into the Volvo, causing it to strike the man, the officers and their patrol car.
The driver, identified as Andrew Coates, 41, of Trenton, collapsed on the street. He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead several hours later, officials said.
Coates’ family told WPVI-TV that he had just dropped someone off shortly before the incident.
“He was a very great dad,” said his aunt, Carleen Coates-Russell. “He loved his kids more than how he loved himself. He lived for his kids.”
A civilian at the scene was also struck by Coates’ vehicle and hospitalized with injuries.
While detectives were still at the hospital, a second gunshot victim arrived. The 34-year-old man had been shot in the right leg and is in stable condition, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Two Trenton police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and were treated at the hospital.
Gunfire also struck two unoccupied vehicles and a residence on Indiana Avenue. No injuries were reported at the home.
Residents told WPVI-TV they heard several gunshots and a loud crash.
“I heard a tremendous crash and people screaming,” said Dennis O’Reilly, who lives nearby. “I’ve never seen that much of a police presence in this neighborhood in my life.”
Another resident, whose car was hit by gunfire, told the station, “Not sad for my car, I’m sad for everybody.”
“He didn’t deserve this,” Coates-Russell told WPVI-TV. “People just fall in love with him. He’s a great person. So, anybody just need to just say what happened. We just need to know why.”
No arrests have been made. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force, the Shooting Response Team, and Trenton Police Department continue to investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jennifer Eyster at (609) 789-7346 or Sgt. Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at mercercountyprosecutor.com.
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