On a summer night in Trenton, New Jersey, the life of 26-year-old Tisheen Rasheen Mack was cut short by gunfire. The Black / African American man was found lying on the sidewalk in the 800 block of East State Street on July 23, 2017, suffering from numerous gunshot wounds. Police who were patrolling the area heard the shots ring out around 10 p.m. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing as many as eight shots fired.
A vehicle in the vicinity was also struck by the gunfire.
Emergency medical personnel arrived and, while providing aid to Mack, discovered that he was in possession of a gun. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His death marked the second homicide in Trenton in less than a week, prompting public statements from the city's mayor about the ongoing violence and the challenges posed by bail reform. Mack, who had a history of arrests, was a father to at least one young daughter.
The investigation into Mack's death led to the arrest of Jihad 'Jay' Jenks, a 23-year-old from the neighboring town of Ewing. Authorities charged Jenks with manslaughter, alleging that the shooting occurred in the 'heat of passion' resulting from a 'reasonable provocation.' In December 2017, a grand jury indicted Jenks on charges of second-degree manslaughter, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Jenks's case drew public attention when he was released from jail on electronically monitored home detention while awaiting trial. This decision came after a judge criticized the state's handling of the case. Despite the indictment, Jenks's attorney maintained his client's innocence, stating that Jenks denied any knowledge of the crime. The legal proceedings continued to unfold, leaving a community to grapple with the violent end of a young man's life.
