Mercer Man Charged In Shooting Death Of 17-Year-Old: Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A 19-year-old Trenton resident has been charged in connection with the shooting death of 17-year-old Opium Leverette, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said Wednesday.

Keisan Simmons, 19, was nabbed in Morrisville, PA., by the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force with assistance from Morrisville Police.

He has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Around 12:32 p.m. on Sept. 22, Trenton police responded to the area of Parkside and Homan avenues on a ShotSpotter activation. When responding officers arrived on the scene, they found Leverette suffering from a gunshot wound to the back.

Leverette was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

Simmons is currently being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility. The prosecutor’s office will file a motion to detain him pending trial.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact MCHTF Detective Luis Vega at (609) 278-2720 or Sgt. William Jett Jr. at (609) 331-5010. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

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