In the late hours of a Friday night in July 2015, the Shot Spotter system alerted Trenton police to gunfire on Sweets Avenue. Arriving at the scene, officers found 28-year-old Leon McClendon, a Black male, inside his car with a gunshot wound to his head. Despite his grave injury, McClendon was conscious and able to speak with the officers who found him.
He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The hope that flickered in those initial moments was extinguished the following day, Saturday, July 25, 2015, when Leon McClendon succumbed to his injuries and passed away. His death was officially ruled a homicide caused by the shooting. McClendon himself had a history involving violence, having previously been incarcerated for the shooting of a rival gang member.
Years have passed since McClendon's death, yet the case remains an open investigation. As of August 2018, no arrests had been made in connection with his murder. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office continues to list the case as unsolved and encourages anyone with information to come forward. The lack of resolution leaves a lingering question in the community and a painful void for his family, who still await answers and justice for his untimely death.
