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Bobby Vazquez, 41, is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree weapons offenses, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.
Vazquez, who was being held at the Mercer County Correction Center on unrelated charges. has been additionally charged in connection with the May 2020 murder of 58-year-old Watson Cogdell, the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Vazquez pending trial, Onofri said.
At about 1:40 p.m. on May 23, 2020, Trenton police responded to a Shot Spotter activation for three gunshots near193 Brunswick Ave. in Trenton.
Trenton patrol officers and EMTs arrived and found Cogdell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Onofri said. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, Onofri said.
A crime scene was located in the lot on the side of 217 Brunswick Avenue where county detectives lfound four .40 caliber casings and a projectile.
Witnesses were interviewed and area video surveillance footage was reviewed as part of the investigation. Multiple witnesses were interviewed who said they saw the suspect shoot Cogdell, according to Onofri.
The suspect was described as wearing dark clothing, approaching from Middle Rose Street, shooting the victim, then returning in the direction of Middle Rose Street. A suspect identified as “Bobby” was seen running into a residence on Sanford Street after the shooting, Onofri said.
Police officers located the residence, which was abandoned, and obtained a search warrant. During a search, a black Taurus .40 caliber handgun, suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia were recovered, Onofri said.
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