On a tragic morning in Trenton, New Jersey, a beloved local business owner, 54-year-old Oscar Palacios, lost his life in a senseless act of violence. The incident unfolded on June 6, 2022, shortly after 6:00 a.m. at Priori's Deli on Hillcrest Avenue, a place Palacios ran with his brother. The two brothers were just beginning their day when a 17-year-old male entered the establishment, his face obscured by a dark mask.
What began as a seemingly ordinary transaction quickly escalated into
a violent robbery. The teenager, after ordering food, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the two brothers. When his demands were not immediately met, he opened fire, grazing the forehead of Oscar's 57-year-old brother. A struggle ensued, during which the suspect shot the older brother in the abdomen. In the midst of the chaos, the assailant fired again, this time striking Oscar Palacios in the chest. The teenage suspect then fled the scene on a bicycle, leaving a scene of devastation behind him.
Both brothers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Oscar Palacios succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. His brother, fortunately, survived the attack and was later released from the hospital. The brazen crime sent shockwaves through the community, prompting a thorough investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Ewing Police Department.
The investigation led authorities to a 17-year-old from Trenton. Surveillance footage from the area proved to be a crucial piece of evidence, capturing the suspect fleeing on a distinctive multi-colored mountain bike and wearing a black jacket with white sneakers. A significant breakthrough came when the teen was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant. Detectives noticed that he was wearing the same sneakers seen in the surveillance video, which appeared to have dried blood on them. Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that the blood on the sneakers was a DNA match to Oscar Palacios's brother. The teenage suspect was arrested and is facing a litany of serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, felony murder, and robbery. He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.
