A fourth passer-by, a 7-year-old girl playing in the park, suffered severe head injuries from a fall while fleeing the crime scene, according to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. She remains hospitalized in guarded condition, he said at a news conference.
Gunfire was reported about 9 a.m. Wednesday near North Montgomery and Wood streets, authorities said. A girl and a boy, ages 10 and 12, struck by gunfire in a vehicle when shooting broke out, police and city officials said.
Across the street, a 30-year-old man was shot, the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Gusciora, police officials, other elected city leaders and the Mercer County prosecutor spoke at an afternoon press briefing at City Hall. Breakiing News of Trenton posted a video with graphic details of the shooting here. (The briefing begins with a prayer about 3 minutes in.)
"There is a social state of emergency in the city of Trenton,'" Gusciora said.
The mayor said two of the children remain in critical but stable condition and are expected to survive their injuries. "When a child goes to a park, they should believe they are in a safe environment," Gusciora said.
"This violence has to stop,'' said Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. "Everyone should be able to enjoy the city. . . Business should be coming back."
The state capital city has suffered 15 fatal shootings this year, 13 of which occurred since a statewide curfew for coronavirus was put into effect in March.
This is a developing news story.
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