Philly Man Charged With Murder In Christmas Eve Shooting In Mercer: Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Philadelphia man was charged with murder on Christmas Eve for fatally shooting a man in Trenton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

Fausto Adalberto-Rodriguez, 45, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. He was taken into custody shortly after the shooting in Trenton, Onofri said.

Around 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, Trenton police responded to an apartment in the 200 block of Walnut Avenue on a report of a man shot.

Officers found Junior Rodriguez, 40, suffering gunshot wounds to the head inside the second-floor apartment. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead a short time later, Onofri said.

According to investigation, Adalberto-Rodriguez showed up at the apartment around 7 p.m. looking to speak to his ex-girlfriend. He found her and the man in the apartment and an altercation ensued, Onofri said.

Adalberto-Rodriguez hit the woman in the head with a handgun, then shot Rodriguez and fled the scene in his vehicle, Onofri said.

The investigation was conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department.

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