In the early hours of a Wednesday in Trenton, New Jersey, the life of 19-year-old Kuyler Fowler was tragically cut short. On May 30, 2018, Fowler was sitting in an Audi parked on the 900 block of East State Street when the vehicle was riddled with over 200 bullets. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
A 16-year-old male was also in the car and suffered a gunshot wound to the leg but was treated and released.
Kuyler, a Black male, was a recent graduate of Nottingham High School, class of 2017, and was remembered as a former basketball player. At the time of his death, he was employed at a local Walmart and had recently been hired for a new position at Trane in Hamilton. Friends recalled his positive nature and his aspirations, with one close friend mentioning his interest in music. The prevailing belief among law enforcement sources was that Fowler was not the intended target of the violent ambush.
For nearly three years, the case remained without arrests, leaving a void in the community and unanswered questions for his family. Then, in March of 2021, a significant breakthrough was announced by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Four men were charged in connection with the 2018 killing of Kuyler Fowler. The suspects were identified as Breon Phelps, 21, of Trenton; Isaac Fisher, 21, of Trenton; and Justin Malkin, 21, of Hamilton. A fourth individual, who was a juvenile at the time of the incident and from Willingboro, was also charged.
At the time the charges were filed, all four suspects were already incarcerated on unrelated offenses. The charges against them included murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and various weapons offenses. The prosecutor's office also indicated their intent to file a motion to have the suspect who was a juvenile at the time of the shooting tried as an adult, marking a pivotal step towards justice for Kuyler Fowler and his loved ones.
