In a moment of street violence that would ultimately prove fatal, Zaire Gibbs, a 25-year-old Black man from Trenton, New Jersey, was shot on June 1, 2016. The incident occurred in the first block of Washington Street in Trenton. He was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the following day, June 2, 2016. Gibbs was remembered as a young man active in his community, having worked with the Boys and Girls Club in Trenton.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to Seth Z. Bowers, then 22 years old, also a resident of Trenton. An altercation between the two men preceded the shooting. Prosecutors stated that Bowers chased Gibbs down and shot him in the back. The bullet entered Gibbs' shoulder and traveled to his lungs, causing the mortal injury. While prosecutors indicated the two men did not have a prior relationship, detectives suggested the argument may have been over drugs.
A crucial piece of evidence left at the scene was a single left-footed Adidas sneaker, which matched a right-footed sneaker later found at Bowers' home on Anderson Street. In addition to this physical evidence, four witnesses identified Bowers as the shooter.
A day after the shooting, Bowers turned himself in to Trenton Police on unrelated warrants. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Zaire Gibbs. A Mercer County grand jury later indicted Bowers on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He was held at the Mercer County Correction Center on a $1 million cash-only bail. In August 2017, Seth Bowers pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 17 years in state prison, bringing a legal conclusion to the case.
