A 19-year-old mother was allegedly being held hostage when city police arrived early yesterday morning, but was able to escape with her 1-year-old son.
TRENTON — An armed city man held his two young children and their mother hostage in a four-hour standoff with law enforcement yesterday morning, police said.
Kevin Robinson, 21, had his 3-year-old daughter with him in the mother’s apartment for the entirety of the standoff on Coolidge Avenue, according to police. The 19-year-old mother was allegedly being held hostage when city police arrived early yesterday morning, but was able to escape with her 1-year-old son a short time later while Robinson was distracted.
Though the woman had taken out a restraining order against him, Robinson arrived at her apartment in the West Ward housing projects sometime late Monday or early yesterday, and the two parents began to argue, Trenton Lt. Steve Varn said.
“It was a dispute that ended up escalating,” Varn said.
Robinson had been released from the Mercer County Corrections Center just two weeks before, a county spokesman said.
Around 5:45 a.m., the mother sent a text message to her father that she was being held by Robinson, against her will, with a gun to her head, police said. Her father called 911.
“Officers arrived at the scene, had no response at the door,” Varn said.
The police secured the apartment building, and residents said they were ordered outside. The New Jersey State Police was contacted and sent a tactical unit to the scene. Once they arrived, the State Police assumed control, Varn said.
Police said the mother was in one room of the apartment with her son while Robinson was in a room inside the apartment with the 3-year-old. This separation allowed the woman to slip outside to safety after police had arrived, Varn said.
Robinson’s uncle Rodman Bird said he was briefly able to speak with Robinson in an effort to try to persuade his young nephew to end the crisis peacefully. Robinson gave himself up around 9:50 a.m.
After Robinson came out, the 3-year-old girl was found inside and unharmed. Varn said the woman and both children were being taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The children were not hurt, but Varn said the mother received minor injuries to her back, head, and arm when she was assaulted by Robinson.
Robinson was incarcerated at the county workhouse between Nov. 16 and Dec. 10, spokesman Michael Boonin said. He had been charged with receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and unlawful possession of a handgun by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, along with traffic charges through Trenton police.
Robinson was released on bail Dec. 10, Boonin said.
According to Bird, Robinson is the father of the children and the woman involved in the hostage situation is the mother of both children. Family members defended Robinson, saying the children’s mother has continually caused drama in the relationship and this time “she pushed it too far.”
They denied he ever held the gun on his children. Robinson is not a bad person, his sister Kenyatta Gaither said.
“I know my brother is a good kid,” she said.
Police seized a loaded revolver from inside the apartment after the standoff was over, Varn said.
Bird said he encountered difficulty when he tried to help city police. Trenton officers at first dismissed his attempts to help before finally bringing him in to speak with his nephew by phone.
“That’s all I wanted to do, man,” Bird said.
Robinson has been charged with three counts of kidnapping, terroristic threats, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of child endangerment, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and contempt of court.
The case remains under investigation by city detectives, Varn said.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.
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