Anthony Yahsim Howlett Sr., a 42-year-old man from Trenton, New Jersey, was killed during a mass shooting in the city’s Wilbur section during the early morning hours of August 30, 2026. Howlett was among roughly 100 people gathered for a block party on the 100 block of Locust Street when several gunmen reportedly approached the gathering and opened fire into the crowd shortly after 12:20 a.m.
The burst of gunfire turned the residential block into a sprawling crime scene.
Ten people were ultimately confirmed shot, and Howlett and Tyasiah West were pronounced dead from their injuries. The eight surviving victims included two women and six men between 23 and 43 years old. In the days immediately following the shooting, four had been treated and released, while three men remained hospitalized in critical condition and a woman was listed in stable condition. Investigators recovered more than 50 spent shell casings from across the block, and several vehicles were also struck by bullets, evidence of the amount of gunfire unleashed during the attack.
Howlett appears to have arrived at the gathering only shortly before the shooting began. His family described him as a devoted father, brother and provider who had been rebuilding his life after previously serving time in prison. Only hours before his death, he had attended an Operation Capital City awards ceremony, where he was recognized for his personal growth, community involvement and efforts to create a better future after incarceration. His cousin, Omar Aikens, founded the event in part to recognize people making positive changes in their lives, and Howlett spoke publicly that evening about how well his life had been going.
Family members said much of Howlett's focus was on providing a better life for his son. His son remembered him as someone who taught him to be strong and made sure he had opportunities. His brother, Kyzir Carmichael, said Howlett's family was central to everything he did and described him as someone he looked up to. The timing of the killing made the loss particularly painful for relatives because Howlett had spent that same day being celebrated for the direction his life had taken.
Authorities said the shooting was carried out by multiple suspects who walked up to the block party and fired into the crowd. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Trenton Police Department began reviewing surveillance footage, processing the extensive crime scene and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify those responsible. Early reports described the shooters as still at large, and investigators publicly appealed for information from anyone who witnessed the attack or possessed relevant evidence.
No arrests or criminal charges in connection with Howlett's killing were announced in the publicly available reports located through September 24, 2026. The identities of the suspected gunmen had not been publicly released, leaving the double homicide and mass shooting under active investigation. Howlett's death therefore remained an unsolved homicide, with investigators still seeking the people responsible for the gunfire that killed him and West and wounded eight others.
