Mercer Men Charged With Murder In Gang Feud Shooting Death: Officials

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Three men from Mercer County have been charged with murder and other offenses in a shooting death that took place on Easter Sunday, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

Joseph Fayson, 22, and Justin Malkin, 23, both of Trenton, and Darrin Eutsey, 23, of Hamilton, were taken into custody early Monday morning, authorities said. All three have been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and third-degree theft by receiving stolen property.

Fayson and Malkin have also charged with second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm. The prosecutor’s office intends to file motions to detain all three defendants.

Around 6:56 p.m. on April 9, Trenton police responded to a ShotSpotter notification reporting multiple shots fired in the area of Lamberton and Federal streets. On arrival, officers found 23-year-old Jhosse Tolentino in the driver’s seat of his parked gray 2010 Infiniti G37, with multiple gunshot wounds. The vehicle and the Tolentino were each struck multiple times, Onofri said. More: Man Shot Multiple Times Inside Parked Car In Mercer Co.: Prosecutor

Police later collected 34 shell casings from the side of 601 Lamberton Street near the vehicle. Tolentino was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

During the investigation, Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from nearby businesses and Trenton City cameras. Surveillance video captured a black 2007 Toyota 4Runner, later identified as a stolen vehicle, cross over Lamberton Street and drive up to the Tolentino’s vehicle, Onofri said.

Fayson, Malkin, and Eutsey were seen exiting the 4Runner and approaching Tolentino’s vehicle with firearms, Onofri said. They shot at the driver’s seat area, then fled in the 4Runner, according to authorities.

The stolen Toyota 4Runner was later found by Detectives parked in the rear of a vacant property on Edgewood Avenue.

According to Onofri, there has been an ongoing feud between H-block gang members and individuals associated with the South Trenton area for more than four years, specifically people associated with Lamberton Street, of which the Tolentino was a part.

The ongoing feud has included murders, shootings and disputes on social media, Onofri said. Detectives learned that leading up to the murder, there was a dispute on social media between Tolentino and family members of H-block gang, authorities said. This led to H-block member Fayson insulting Tolentino and Lamberton Street associates on Instagram.

Tolentino then shared a story on Instagram in response to one of the comments by Fayson shortly before he was murdered, Onofri said.

Onofri praised the investigative work of the Homicide Task Force and thanked the public for the assistance provided during the investigation.

“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the community to work with us,” Onofri said. “I encourage the public to maintain communication with law enforcement,” he added.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call HTF Detective Karl Johnston or HTF Detective Nicholas Barber at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

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