Man Killed Lawrence Weed Shop Owner During Armed Robbery Spree: Feds

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – A 38-year-old Trenton man was charged with murder and other offenses after he allegedly killed a weed shop owner and robbed Trenton-area businesses at gunpoint, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Paul X. McNeil robbed three businesses at gunpoint, in one case killing a Lawrence-based cannabis shop owner at his home, Sellinger said.

Neil was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to court documents, McNeil targeted local businesses and business owners based upon the victims’ access to the businesses’ cash proceeds.

On Sept. 30, 2022, an employee of an auto recycling shop in Ewing was collecting the shop’s cash proceeds when McNeil and a coconspirator entered the shop. McNeil pointed a firearm at the employee before he and the coconspirator took approximately $150,000 of the shop’s cash proceeds and the employee’s registered firearm, Sellinger said.

Later that day, McNeil purchased a new car, paying $9,500 in a down payment.

On Aug. 10, 2023, McNeil followed the owner of a Trenton cannabis shop to his residence in Lawrence Township. Moments after the weed shop owner entered the house, McNeil followed him inside and robbed him of the shop’s cash proceeds.

According to court documents, the man’s wife heard him tell McNeil, “No, no, no … please, here, you can have it,” moments before he was shot and killed.

McNeil also took from the man's jewelry, authorities said. Photographs recovered from McNeil’s cellphone show him wearing the Lawrence man’s jewelry, which was later recovered from his vehicle.

On Sept. 23, 2023, McNeil entered the Ewing residence of an owner of a Trenton-area house-flipping business. On entering the home, McNeil found three victims, including two minors, court documents said.

The owner of the business was not at home at the time. McNeil pointed a handgun at the three victims and demanded money. He then bound the victims’ hands behind their backs with zip ties and forced them at gunpoint into the basement while he searched the residence.

McNeil took around $4,500 in cash from the house-flipping business as well as some personal items, according to court documents.

“These charges allege that the defendant targeted several local business owners for robbery and murdered one of them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with its federal and local law enforcement partners, will spare no effort to investigate and prosecute violent offenders who target the businesses and residents of New Jersey,” Sellinger said.

Authorities said the count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence is punishable by death, or a term of imprisonment up to life.

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