In the early hours of a Saturday morning in Trenton, New Jersey, the life of 19-year-old Harold A. Rosario Cordones was tragically cut short. On March 25, 2023, just before 1 a.m., violence erupted on the 100 block of Sanhican Drive, forever altering the lives of two families. Gunshots shattered the quiet of the neighborhood, and when the chaos subsided, two young men were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. For Harold, a resident of Trenton, the injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. The other victim, a 20-year-old man, was fortunate to survive and was listed in stable condition after receiving medical care for his injuries.
The incident immediately prompted an intensive investigation led by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department.
The investigation into the shooting unfolded over the following weeks, as detectives worked to piece together the events of that tragic morning. Their efforts ultimately led them to identify two suspects. On April 14, 2023, members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, in conjunction with local law enforcement, located and apprehended 23-year-old Ja-Quez Howard in Trenton. Just four days later, on April 18, the second suspect, 24-year-old Darnell D. Mensah, was taken into custody in the city by the same fugitive task force.
Following their arrests, both Howard and Mensah faced serious charges in connection with the shooting. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office announced that both men were charged with murder for the death of Harold A. Rosario Cordones, as well as attempted murder for the wounding of the second victim. Additionally, they faced charges of aggravated assault and various weapons offenses. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young life as the two accused men began their journey through the legal system to answer for the violence that transpired on that fateful night on Sanhican Drive.
