Mercer County Man Charged With Two Murders, Five Armed Robberies

A man with addresses in Trenton and Beverly is being charged with two murders and five armed robberies that all took place between July and October of this year, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini, Jr. and Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey, Jr. announced on Thursday.

Randy Kareem Washington, 33, has been charged with the July 30 murder of George Jamison, 43, of Pennington.

He was also charged with the Oct. 29 murder of Silas Johnson, Jr., 64, of Burlington County.

At about 10:12 a.m. on Oct. 29, Trenton Police received a report of shots fired in the area of Market Street under the Route 1 underpass.

Upon arrival, officers discovered Johnson laying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds.

He was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Witnesses reported that Washington shot Johnson following a scuffle between the two.

Police immediately arrested Washington on Conover Alley.

Evidence collected at the scene linked Washington to Jamison’s murder.

Washington has also been charged with the following armed robberies:

· July 13—at approximately 9 p.m., a 44-year-old Hispanic man who was exiting the Trenton Train Station was approached by Washington from behind. Washington allegedly produced a handgun and struck the victim on the right cheek with the handgun. During the robbery, $20, a bicycle and cell phone were taken from the victim.

· July 23—at approximately 9:24 p.m., a 24-year-old Hispanic woman was putting her children in the car after attending church services in the area of 304 North Willow Street when Washington allegedly approached her on a bicycle and pointed a handgun at her head. During the robbery, the victim’s purse, wedding band and iPhone were taken.

· Oct. 16—at approximately 11:15 a.m., a 24-year-old Hispanic man was in the area of the 300 block of Centre Street when a black man, later identified as Washington, allegedly shot the victim in the hand and took his Diamondback bicycle. The bicycle was recovered by the police on the day of the Johnson murder. Ballistics evidence from the Centre Street robbery has also been linked to the Jamison and Johnson homicides.

· Oct. 17—at approximately 8:46 p.m., a 44-year-old white female was going to the store in the area of Walnut and Monmouth Streets when she was approached by an individual on a bicycle later identified as Washington. Washington allegedly demanded money and, when the victim indicated that she did not have money, allegedly pistol-whipped the victim causing a fractured nasal cavity and orbital bone. The victim was beaten unconscious and subsequently woke-up in the hospital.

· Oct. 17—at approximately 9:47 p.m., a 27-year-old white man and 23-year-old black woman were walking on Greenwood Avenue near Chestnut Avenue when they were approached by an individual on a bicycle later identified as Washington. Washington then allegedly produced a handgun and pointed it at the victims. The woman was pistol whipped and sustained injuries to her left eye and a concussion. A Galaxy cell phone was taken during the robbery.

Numerous firearms charges were also filed against Washington.

Washington’s total bail is set at $3 million, full cash.

There is an additional $100,000 full cash bail on Washington for resisting arrest, criminal trespass and obstructing the administration of law.

The murder charges are a result of a Mercer County Homicide Task Force investigation and the armed robbery charges stem from a joint investigation of the Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section.