Trenton Man Convicted by Mercer County Jury for August 2020 Double Homicide

Trenton Man Convicted of Double Homicide in August 2020 Shooting

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER) – After a thorough investigation and a three-week trial, Tyzir Hamilton, a 22-year-old resident of Trenton, was found guilty of the double homicide that occurred on Centre Street in Trenton on August 9, 2020. Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced the jury’s verdict on September 21, 2023, revealing that Hamilton was convicted on all counts of the indictment, which included two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a handgun.

The tragic incident unfolded at approximately 7:30 a.m. on August 9, 2020, when officers from the Trenton Police Department were dispatched to the scene of the shooting in the vicinity of 300 Centre Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless body of 18-year-old William Irizarry lying on the street near 339 Centre Street. Irizarry had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim, 18-year-old Julius Vargas, was found inside a corner market with a gunshot wound. Vargas was rushed to the hospital for treatment but tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

Detectives from the Homicide Task Force (HTF) swiftly initiated their investigation and were able to locate a witness and multiple surveillance cameras in the area of the shooting. The suspect vehicle, a black Chrysler 300 with Pennsylvania license plates, was captured on camera circling the area prior to the shooting. The vehicle eventually parked and observed the victims along with several others for several minutes. At that moment, two black males, later identified as Tyzir Hamilton and Treizon Thompson, exited the vehicle wearing all-black attire and black ski masks. Both assailants ran towards the victims, firing multiple gunshots. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Darnell Davis, remained inside. Hamilton and Thompson relentlessly pursued Irizarry as he attempted to flee into the street, continuing to shoot at him. Even after Irizarry fell to the ground, they callously continued to fire at him. The perpetrators then returned to the suspect vehicle, which promptly fled the scene.

Further investigation uncovered that the black Chrysler 300 had been reported stolen from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, on August 3, 2020. An automated license plate reader camera had also captured the vehicle in the vicinity of Pennington Avenue and Reservoir Street in Trenton on August 4. Detectives managed to partially match the license plate of the suspect vehicle to the stolen vehicle from Bensalem, further strengthening their case.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit conducted a thorough examination of Irizarry’s cell phone, pursuant to a search warrant, and discovered a photo on his Facebook page that disrespected the H-Block gang. Detectives continued to monitor various public social media posts throughout August, where numerous members of the H-Block gang discussed the murders of Irizarry and Vargas, taunting and threatening the victims’ friends and family. These individuals also made references to Irizarry’s disrespect towards the H-Block gang prior to his untimely demise.

On September 1, 2020, while conducting surveillance during an unrelated investigation, HTF detectives spotted the black Chrysler 300 with Pennsylvania plates in the vicinity of Perry and Southard streets in Trenton. As detectives attempted to identify the occupants, the vehicle abruptly sped away, initiating a high-speed pursuit. The pursuit eventually concluded on Reservoir Street near Frazier Street, where the vehicle collided with a telephone pole and the occupants fled on foot. Surveillance footage from the area captured the vehicle crashing into the pole. Two black males, both wearing all-black attire with their hoods up, exited the vehicle through the front passenger door. They quickly fled on foot, disappearing from sight as they turned onto Frazier Street from Pennington Avenue.

A subsequent search warrant was obtained for the vehicle, leading detectives to discover a fully-loaded 9mm Taurus handgun beneath the driver’s seat. The handgun was submitted to the New Jersey State Police Laboratory, which confirmed that it was one of the weapons used in the murders of Irizarry and Vargas. Moreover, another witness came forward, providing crucial identification of Davis, Hamilton, and Thompson as the individuals responsible for the deaths of Irizarry and Vargas.

Upon the arrest of all three suspects in October 2020, Prosecutor Onofri commended the diligent investigative efforts of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and expressed gratitude towards the public for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation. “For weeks, detectives have methodically pieced the puzzle together, identifying the vehicle and all three suspects. But the help of the public in solving this double homicide was instrumental,” he stated. “It allowed us to follow leads from the very beginning, helping to point investigators in the right direction and allowing them to connect the dots.”

During the trial, the state was represented by Mercer County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen M. Petrucci and Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michael C. Borgos. The honorable Peter E. Warshaw, a judge in the Mercer County Superior Court, presided over the proceedings. Hamilton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 4, 2024, alongside his co-defendant, Treizon Thompson, who was tried in December 2022 and also found guilty on all counts. Both individuals face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Darnell Davis, the driver of the suspect vehicle, had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and is currently awaiting sentencing.

The successful conclusion of this trial serves as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and Sgt. Richard Sheppard of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, who led the investigation. Mark Fury, Esq., represented Hamilton as his defense attorney throughout the proceedings.