Crime & Safety
Mercer Murder Suspect Nabbed In PA After 8-Month Investigation
Terrance Travers faces murder charges in the death of Andrew Coates, 41, whose vehicle struck a patrol car after he was shot in 2025.
MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with an August 2025 fatal shooting, authorities said Tuesday.
Terrance Travers, 47, of Trenton, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, receiving stolen property, and multiple weapons offenses, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.
Travers was arrested Monday in Pennsylvania by Falls Township police and is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending extradition.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The charges stem from a shooting that unfolded around 11:25 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2025, when Trenton police responded to a ShotSpotter activation for multiple rounds near North Olden and Ohio avenues. As officers approached, their patrol vehicle was struck by a second car being driven by a shooting victim who had lost control. The man, Andrew Coates, 41, of Trenton, was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.
Another person at the scene was also struck and injured by Coates' vehicle and was taken to the hospital for treatment. A second shooting victim, an adult male with a gunshot wound to his right leg, later arrived at the hospital in stable condition. Two Trenton police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were also treated.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Two unoccupied vehicles were struck by gunfire, as was a residence on Indiana Avenue. No one inside the home was injured, Marbrey said.
Marbrey credited the eight-month investigation to Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detectives Jennifer Eyster and Tim Bruey, saying their work was "meticulous and relentless" as they followed leads to identify the person responsible for Coates' death. She also thanked the Falls Township and Middletown Township police departments and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office for their assistance in Travers' arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at 609-989-6406 or submit a tip anonymously at mercercountyprosecutor.com.
Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
