Mercer Man Charged With Murder Was Wearing Ankle Monitor During Crime: Investigators

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County man who was charged with murder last month, was wearing an ankle monitor when he committed the crime, according to investigators.

Najir Tripp, 29, was charged last month in the shooting death of Michael Jones, 44, of Trenton.

Tripp was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2024, Trenton police responded to the 300 block of West Hanover Street on a ShotSpotter activation for more than 20 rounds.

When officers arrived on the scene they found Jones in the driver’s seat of a black Mercedes sedan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Jones was found to have two gunshot wounds in the left skull area, one gunshot wound in the left neck area, and one gunshot wound to the right neck area. After going into cardiac arrest multiple times, Jones was immediately intubated and listed in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Detectives obtained several pieces of security footage that showed a man, later identified as Tripp, lowering his waistband and removing a black handgun, before firing multiple rounds at Jones who was sitting in the Mercedes.

According to the affidavit, Tripp even took a "shooting stance” with both hands on the gun. "As the suspect is firing the handgun, multiple clouds of smoke can be observed from the barrel,” the affidavit said.

A Trenton Police officer identified Tripp from the footage. When authorities went to his residence two days later, they found Tripp and his father at home. Officers noticed that Tripp was wearing an ankle bracelet on his left leg.

“After a further review of surveillance footage from the incident, a large square bulge is observed on the suspected shooter’s left ankle area underneath his pants. The shape and size of the square bulge is consistent with the shape and size of the ankle bracelet located on Tripp’s left ankle during the search warrant execution,” according to the affidavit.

Tripp’s ankle monitor is part of his bail from criminal charges in Pennsylvania, NJ.com reported. He has multiple charges pending in Delaware County including possession of a firearm, drug possession, and witness intimidation from 2022 and 2023, the report says.

Tripp also has three upper court convictions in NJ for possession of CDS, PWI, and aggravated assault, making him a “Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm," the affidavit said.

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