3 Trenton Men & Virginia Man, Charged For The July 2, 2024, Trenton Shooting Death Of A Camden, New Jersey Man

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 7:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

TRENTON, NJ.- Following an investigation, on Thursday, August 1, 2024, three Trenton, New Jersey men and a Suffolk, Virginia man were taken into custody and charged in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Capriest Ruiz of Camden, New Jersey.

     Dajon Bethea, 26, of Trenton, Shyheim McMillon, 27, of Trenton, Jamir Black, 26, of Trenton, and Shatwan Liverman, 27, of Suffolk, Virginia, were all taken into custody, and each charged with first-degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Bethea and McMillon were additionally charged with Accomplice Liability Murder.

     Early Thursday morning, August 1, 2024, members of Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement authorities located and apprehended Bethea, Black, and Liverman in Trenton, New Jersey. At the time of his arrest, Bethea was in possession of a defaced firearm and suspected heroin, and additional charges will be filed against him.

     McMillon was taken into custody early Thursday morning, August 1, 2024, inside a Miami Beach Hotel room, by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Miami Beach Police Department. McMillon will remain detained with the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation pending extradition to New Jersey.

     The arrests and charges are the result of an investigation that unfolded on July 2, 2024, when shortly after 1:30 p.m., members of the Trenton Police Department to a ShotSpotter activation on the 200 Block of Euclid Avenue in the City of Trenton.

     Upon arrival. Police Officers found Capriest Ruiz, 23, of Camden, New Jersey, on the sidewalk suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his head. Mr. Ruiz was immediately transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where, despite life-saving efforts by medical center staff, Mr. Ruiz succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased the following day.

     According to court filings, on the afternoon of the shooting, Mr. Ruiz was riding a bicycle through the City of Trenton. While riding the bike, the four charged men in a white Jeep followed Mr. Ruiz for several city blocks and, while on Euclid Avenue, fired shots from the Jeep, sticking Mr. Ruiz in the head.

     A swift-moving and extensive investigation by Detectives of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department was able to identify all four men as suspects and the individuals responsible for the death of Mr. Ruiz, and charges were filed against all four. 

     Bethea’s girlfriend, Patricia Washington, 29, was also taken into custody Thursday morning for her role in trying to divert attention from the four men by calling Trenton Police about 30 minutes after the shooting and reporting the Jeep stolen. Accordingly, Washington was formally charged with False Reporting to Law Enforcement; and Obstruction of Justice by Hindering Another’s Apprehension.

     The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this homicide investigation is urged to contact Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detective Scott Peterson at (609) 989-6406 or Sergeant Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997. Tips can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org. All calls will be kept confidential.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”