NJ Mass Shooting Updates: 17 Shot, What Led To Trenton Tragedy

Gang activity forewarned by a Facebook post apparently led to one of the worst mass shootings in New Jersey history on Sunday, leaving 17 people with gunshot wounds before one gunman was shot and killed, and police arrested the another. The suspect who was killed was released from prison only four months ago.

Tahaij Wells, 32, who was released from prison on "homicide-related charges," and Amir "Mir" Armstrong, 23, were the suspected gunmen at the Art All Night festival in Trenton on Father's Day. The shooting took place at just before 3 a.m. at an event that had 1,000 people in attendance, with gang members and officers firing at one another.

A third suspected gunman in the shooting, who was not identified, was listed in critical condition at a local hospital. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office did not elaborate on that person's role.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy addressed the mass shooting during an 11 a.m. press conference in Trenton on Monday, saying of the victims: "We should all keep praying for their full recoveries and we will ensure all those responsible for this lawlessness will be brought to justice." (watch the press conference below).

Murphy said more guns need to be removed from the streets and away from people who shouldn't have them, noting that Wells was a "well-known gang member with a violent past."

"Gang violence is an all-too-stark reality on too many streets in this city and I'm not going to turn my back on Trenton," he said.

Three of the 17 people who suffered gunshot wounds – including a 13-year-old boy – were listed in stable condition late Sunday, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Overall, 22 people were hurt in what the MCPO called a "mass casualty shooting."

Read more: NJ Fatal Mass Shooting Updates: 17 Shot In Trenton, Gunmen ID'd

Tahaij Wells, 32, is dead (pictured left), and another, Amir "Mir" Armstrong, 23, is in police custody and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun (pictured right). Both were identified as Trenton residents.

In interviews held after Murphy spoke from a Trenton church on Sunday, Mayor-elect Reed Gusciora said the shooting appears to be a turf war between neighborhood gangs. He and Jerell Blakeley, who was recently elected councilman-at-large, said authorities are investigating a Facebook post that said: “Please. Please. Please. Do Not Go to the Art All Night. They will be shooting it up.”

The Facebook message was posted Saturday night, but Trenton officials said it came to their attention following the tragedy on Sunday.

Wells had trouble with the law, and engaged in gang activity, for nearly two decades. He was sentenced in 2004 to 18 years in state prison after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man, according to the state Department of Corrections. Wells was 17 but was tried as an adult.

In 2002, Wells was arrested at the Macintosh Inn in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pa. by members of the New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the United States Marshals Service after a manhunt, authorities told The New York Times at the time. Wells was accused of shooting Robert McNair three times in the chest in an argument over a girl.

After Wells had been announced as a suspect in 2002, his mother told the Times of Trenton "he (was never involved) in things like this," according to nj.com. Then records show that in 2010, Wells, while in prison, was sentenced to six more years after pleading guilty to a second-degree racketeering charge.

Wells had helped David "Duke" Allen, the imprisoned leader of the Bloods' Nine Trey Gangsters faction, run his gang from behind bars, according to nj.com. The Attorney General's Office has described Wells as an alleged Bloods gang member.

Wells was released from prison in February.

The Father's Day shooting occurred when multiple people attending Trenton's 2018 Art All Night Event, located at the Historic Roebling Wire Works at 675 South Clinton Ave., opened fire within the venue, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.

Trenton police responded at approximately 2:50 a.m. when "multiple males at the event shot multiple people attending," according to the MCPO. Video shown below shows the scene.

Prior to the shooting, there were numerous physical altercations inside and outside the art event venue. The MCPO said the mood inside had been changing and police told organizers that the event needed to be shut down.

Some of the people involved in the altercations apparently had some connections to a "gang dispute" in the area. They continued to fight even as the event was shutting down. The altercations then apparently escalated in gunfire, according to the MCPO. The suspects were shooting at each other.

The suspects were wounded when police arrived on scene, according to the MCPO. The 17 people who suffered gunshot injuries and were being treated at local hospitals. Multiple weapons were recovered.

The Art All Night organizers, who ultimately canceled the event, offered their heartfelt sympathies: "We’re very shocked. We’re deeply saddened. Our hearts ache and our eyes are blurry but our dedication and resolve to building a better Trenton through community, creativity and inspiration will never fade. Not tonight. Not ever."

"We know there are a lot of questions and a lot of speculation at this point. We’re still trying ourselves to piece this entire situation together. What we do know is that we are currently unable to release any submitted artwork that is currently inside the Roebling Wire Works building. That being said, we promise you we’ll be in touch as soon as we have more questions we information on this. We truly appreciate your understanding and patience during this incredibly difficult and confusing situation."

Authorities said that about 1,000 people were in the area when the shooting started.

"My sympathy goes out to the victims and their families," Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson said at a Sunday morning press conference. "All shootings are a crisis. This is not just a random act of violence – this is a public health issue."

"Woke up to news of another terrible shooting, and this time in our own backyard. Praying for those affected in Trenton today," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-NJ.

Murphy, who just signed six gun-control bills into law this past week, said "there's still more work to do" in trying to prevent gun violence in local communities. He decried other states for being permissive in their gun laws and enabling people to easily transport firearms into New Jersey from elsewhere.

"We're getting stronger and better but we're a long way from getting rid of this senselessness," he said.

Numerous reports spoke about how the tragedy may have stemmed from a fight near the celebration.

“When we got here around 2:30, it didn’t look like we were coming to Art All Night,” city resident Franco Roberts told The Trentonian. “It looked like we were outside of a Philadelphia club after the bar closes and people who don’t want to leave are standing around their cars smoking and drinking.”

Roberts told The Trentonian he had a feeling something bad was going to happen in the vicinity of the celebration because there were “more people outside than in the warehouse” and no music was playing inside. “Someone told us they were shutting down the whole building. Then we turned around and saw people squaring up to fight.”

Then came the gunfire, and everybody ran toward the door, he told the publication. People were fighting as the gunmen fled the building, shooting.

Eva Zoll, who said she attended the event, told RLS Media: "I am 71-yrs-old and stopped in to check on my artwork on display. I heard shots behind me and turned and the crowd began to stampede towards me. Thank the Lord I can run. The people were running for their lives. My heart is still shaking but I am safe. My prayers for those who were shot. OMG."

Video from the scene: Viewer discretion advised.

A police officer inspects the crime scene at the Roebling Market on June 17, 2018, the morning after a shooting at an all-night art festival injured 20 people and left one suspect dead in Trenton, New Jersey. (Photo by DOMINICK REUTER / AFP) (Photo credit: DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images)