Javier Chaj-Ajtun, a 33-year-old male, was sitting in his idling van at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and North Anderson Street in Trenton, New Jersey, on the evening of August 13, 2021. At approximately 7:10 p.m., a man approached the vehicle and engaged in a brief and seemingly friendly conversation with Chaj-Ajtun. Suddenly, the man opened fire, striking Chaj-Ajtun in the face.
Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The investigation into the city's 16th homicide of the year led detectives to review surveillance footage from the area. The footage, combined with witness accounts, helped authorities identify the suspect as Luis Carranza-Andrade. A significant break in the case came when a patrol officer recognized Carranza-Andrade from a previous encounter. The officer recalled the suspect's distinctive New Balance sneakers, which matched those worn by the shooter in the surveillance video.
Following his identification, a warrant was issued for Carranza-Andrade's arrest. He was located and apprehended in Nebraska and subsequently extradited back to New Jersey to face charges for the murder of Javier Chaj-Ajtun. Authorities have noted that Carranza-Andrade is a known member of the 18th Street gang. He appeared in court for a detention hearing, which was postponed at the request of his defense attorney.
