Mayor-elect: Security should be increased following art festival shooting

<p>Trenton&rsquo;s mayor-elect says that security in the city should be increased following gunfire at an all-night art and music festival.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 18, 2018, 11:15 AM

Updated 2,139 days ago

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Trenton’s mayor-elect says that security in the city should be increased following gunfire at an all-night art and music festival.
Mayor-elect Reed Gusciora says, “We’re going to have to really partner with the nonprofits to provide more police protection.”
Trenton police say that one of the gunmen was killed and over 20 others injured early Sunday morning at the festival at the Roebling factory. The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Police say that they believe that it was gang-related.
Tahaji Wells, 33, was fatally shot by police during the melee. Wells had recently been released from prison and was on parole since February on homicide-related charges, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri says. 
Officials say Wells and at least two other men were shooting at each other.
Amir Armstrong, 23, listed in stable condition, was charged with a weapons offense. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Gov. Phil Murphy says that many of the injured are improving Monday.
“I am pleased that the innocent residents who were caught in the crossfire continue to improve, particularly there is a 13-year-old boy so keep them in your prayers,” Murphy says.
Art All Night is produced by local nonprofit group ArtWorks Trenton. The 24-hour festival showcases performances and visual art.
One of the artists at the event says that he agrees with increasing security.
“I thought it would be a wise precaution to have metal detectors or some other type of screening to prevent this from happening,” says photographer Paul Wesley.
But gun control advocate Reba Tolley says that the openness of the event makes it special. The group Moms Demand Action had a table and volunteers at the festival when the shooting happened.
“It’s such a beautiful event of people coming together. I don’t want there to be tons of security and things like that because it will ruin the spirit of the event,” Tolley says.
Investigators are also looking into reports that there were posts on social media warning of a potential shooting at the festival. Investigators say that they are looking into the validity of these reports.


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