Reported gas odor clears Lewis School

by Central Jersey News Updates

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 10:44 AM

PRINCETON -- Authorities evacuated about 100 students and staff members the Lewis School in Princeton after a gas-like odor was reported Tuesday. Four students were taken to the University Medical Center at Princeton after complaining of respiratory ailments.

Although firefighters in the basement detected levels of carbon monoxide of 45 parts per million in the vicinity of the furnace, authorities said the presence of the odorless gas was unrelated to the gas-like smell or to symptoms reported by the students or staff, The Princeton Packet reported.

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Trenton police call Hamilton man's death a homicide

by Ryan Tracy/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 9:00 PM

TRENTON -- Monday night's fatal shooting on South Clinton Avenue has been ruled a homicide, city police announced Tuesday. (See earlier story)

Trenton police identified Joseph Costanzo, 38, of Hamilton, as the man pronounced dead due to an apparent gunshot wound to the face, and called the incident a homicide.

However, few other details of the slaying were released Tuesday.

The killed occurred Monday evening at approximately 8:48 inside a residence in the 1400 block of South Clinton Avenue, police reported.

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Helicopter, dogs aid East Windsor police in hunt for teenage suspects

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 7:23 PM

EAST WINDSOR -- A State Police helicopter and police dogs were used to help locate a pair of Hightstown teenagers after they allegedly ditched a stolen minivan Tuesday morning.

Police said the two -- a 17-year-old Morrison Avenue resident and a 16-year-old from Herron Avenue -- were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and hindering apprehension. Their names were withheld because they are juveniles.

It was shortly before 8 a.m. when township police were notified that an off-duty North Brunswick police lieutenant was on Windsor-Perrineville Road following a vehicle that had been reported stolen from East Windsor on Nov. 25.

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Police seeking tips after pedestrian shot in thigh

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 7:19 PM

TRENTON -- A city man was shot in the thigh Monday night as he walked in the West Ward, police announced Tuesday.

Police said they learned of the shooting after the victim went to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment of the wound, which was not life-threatening.

The 24-year-old man, whose name was not released, told officers he was shot in the right thigh about 9:30 p.m. while he was walking along Hoffman Avenue, police said.

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Trenton man admits he endangered child's life during shooting

by Linda Stein/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 7:08 PM

A 29-year-old Trenton man who picked up a child to use as a shield when he was being shot at pleaded guilty Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta.

Rasheed McNair, of Oakland Street, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child for his action in the March incident with the child, who was about 8 years old at the time.

The shooting occurred on Oakland Street and left McNair wounded in the upper arm, said Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian. The child was not hurt.

In a separate case from March 2007, McNair pleaded guilty to being a felon who is not allowed to possess a gun and to resisting arrest, a charge from April 2007, Gasparian said.

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Police blotter for Tuesday, 12/02/2008

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 5:11 PM

Available for download below, in PDF format, are copies of news releases issued to the media by area police departments between Saturday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. The releases provide details about various crimes that occurred recently within the respective municipalities.

It should be noted that not all area police departments issue written news releases. Some departments prefer to release details about newsworthy events directly to reporters over the telephone. Of those departments that do issue written releases, some do so only once or twice a week.

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Guilty plea in killing after argument about TV remote control

by Linda Stein/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 1:49 PM

"I'm sorry," Donald Zampini said to a victim's family as sheriff's officers led him in shackles from the courtroom after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated manslaughter in the killing of an East Windsor woman.

A jury had been selected and opening arguments were slated for the morning when, after a delay of several hours, lawyers said there would be a guilty plea hearing instead of a trial.
Zampini, 73, told Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey that he had argued with the victim, Barbara Morris, 63, over possession of a television remote control shortly before he stabbed her 28 times on Aug. 31, 2006. But Zampini said he does not remember committing the actual slaying but agreed that it was his voice on a 911 call to East Windsor police at about 1 a.m. the next morning.

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