Markquice R. Thomas, also known as “Tank,” is accused of standing on Martin Luther King Boulevard near the intersection of Rossell Avenue around 3:45 p.m. Sunday and firing a handgun several times at Joseph Gaines, who was seated in the vehicle parked outside a memorial set up outside the club.
TRENTON—A 28-year-old city man has been charged with the attempted murder of a 45-year-old Trenton man shot in the head Sunday while sitting inside an SUV parked outside an illegal after-hours club on the 900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, where another city man died and others were seriously injured early Saturday morning, officials said.
Markquice R. Thomas, also known as “Tank,” stood on Martin Luther King Boulevard near the intersection of Rossell Avenue around 3:45 p.m. Sunday and fired a handgun several times at Joseph Gaines, who was seated in the vehicle parked outside a memorial set up outside the club, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced today in a statement.
Gaines remains at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton in critical condition.
Another man, identified as a 21-year-old city resident, was shot in the hand Sunday while standing in a group of about 20 mourners gathered near the memorial site, Police Lt. Steve Varn said. That victim was taken by ambulance to Capital Health Regional, treated and released, said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Additional charges for Thomas are possible pending further investigation, DeBlasio said.
Police are trying to determine whether there is a connection between Saturday’s shootings and Sunday’s incident, she said.
An investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force developed information on a tan Mercury Montego connected to the Sunday afternoon shooting on the 900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the statement said.
Off-duty Trenton Police Officer Nathan Bolognini spotted the vehicle Tuesday afternoon and reported it, the statement said.
Trenton patrol officers Victor Miranda and Howard Watkins went to Parker and North Olden avenues and located the Mercury. As they approached Thomas, who was standing outside the vehicle, he allegedly dropped heroin on the ground. He was taken into custody and transported to the prosecutor’s office, the statement said.
Thomas was charged Tuesday night with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and certain persons not to possess a fireman, the statement said.
Thomas was additionally charged by Trenton police with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with the intent to distribute, the statement said.
Bail on the attempted murder was set at $250,000 by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Janetta D. Marbrey.
In Saturday’s attack at the after-hours club, Charles White, 43, was shot in the head and pronounced dead hours later, DeBlasio said.
Several others were injured, including a 30-year-old Ewing man shot in the heart, lung and lower extremities who remains in critical condition at Capital Health Regional, DeBlasio said.
Police were called out to the establishment just before 5 a.m. on Saturday and found four people shot, First Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said.
A 23-year-old city woman who was shot in the right shoulder and a 30-year-old Trenton man who was shot in the ankle were released from the hospital, DeBlasio said.
A 28-year-old city woman was severely burned by grease from a deep fryer she bumped into while fleeing the gunfire Saturday. She was taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Onofri said.
A 26-year-old city woman also suffered minor burns on her legs from the grease, Onofri said.
Contact Nicole Mulvaney at nmulvaney@njtimes.com.
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