TRENTON, NJ – A deadly incident unfolded over the weekend in Trenton, New Jersey, where a man was fatally shot as he attempted to protect his children during a carjacking, authorities said.
Johny Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez, the victim, was found deceased inside his overturned Dodge Durango by the Mercer County officers who responded to the scene around 10:20 p.m. at the intersection of Garfield and Farragut avenues. The prosecutor’s office confirmed he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri reported that Cruz-Rodriguez was attending to the rear of his SUV when an unidentified assailant commandeered the vehicle and tried to flee. In a desperate effort to protect his children, who were secured in car seats in the back, Cruz-Rodriguez climbed into the vehicle as the carjacker began to drive away.
Witnesses told police that the gunman fired several shots at Cruz-Rodriguez before crashing the vehicle a short distance from where the altercation began. Fortunately, the two children were found unharmed amidst the chaos.
The violent event has left the community and Cruz-Rodriguez’s family reeling as they mourn the loss of a father taken while trying to protect his children.
Police are actively investigating the homicide and have asked the public for assistance in providing relevant information about the case. Investigators are determined to bring the perpetrator to justice and are seeking the public’s help in resolving this heinous crime.