In the early hours of a cold Tuesday morning, the city of Trenton was marked by its first homicide of the year. On January 16, 2018, Terrence James McKinney, a 46-year-old Black male, was found dead in a parking lot on West State Street. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The city's Shot Spotter system detected the gunfire around 1:16 a.m., prompting a police response to the scene next to the Mercer Street Friends preschool.
A lifelong resident of Trenton's Prospect Village area,
McKinney was a graduate of Trenton Central High School. He was a dedicated engineer at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton and an active member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Those who knew him remembered his fun-loving nature, his infectious laugh, and his devotion to his family. He often shared humorous and lighthearted posts on his social media in the days leading up to his tragic death.
The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting. Despite their efforts, no arrests have been made in connection with Terrence McKinney's murder, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains open, leaving a community and a grieving family searching for answers.
McKinney's sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and sorrow through his community. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a large extended family. Friends and family gathered to mourn their loss and celebrate his life at a memorial service held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, remembering a man known for his kindness and humor, whose life was cut short by an act of violence that remains unresolved.
