Trenton creates purchase safe zones after murder
TRENTON » Calling the execution-style murder of Danny Diaz-Delgado an “atrocity,” city Councilman Duncan Harrison on Tuesday designated the rear of City Hall as an internet purchase exchange zone.
“I’ve purchased things off the internet and many other people have here in the city of Trenton. They need a safe space to go to be able to purchase these items for themselves or for their loved ones,” the at-large councilman said at a press conference in the back of City Hall where the zone will be established. “So we want to create that here. We’ll have additional lighting where people can see. We’ll have a flow of traffic as well. Also, we have cameras here that can also record what’s going on here because we believe that it’s important that when you are purchasing these items that you do not purchase items at night, that you do not bring large sums of money and that you do not also go it alone.”
The safe zone was spurred by the brutal murder of 20-year-old Diaz-Delgado, who was kidnapped, robbed and executed while trying to purchase a PlayStation 4 for his younger brother in Trenton.
Convicted burglars Rufus Thompson and Akmal “Ak” Alvaranga worked together as friends in a scheme that used Facebook and a bogus PlayStation 4 sales pitch to coax Diaz-Delgado, a huge video game fan, to come to an alley abutting the 300 block of South Cook Avenue about 5 p.m. March 23. When Diaz-Delgado arrived, 29-year-old defendant Alvaranga pointed a gun at him and ordered him into a nearby garage behind Alvaranga’s home, prosecutors alleged.
Thompson and Alvaranga stole the $200 that Diaz-Delgado was going to purchase the game system with and robbed him of another $700 using his ATM card, authorities said.
The ex-cons eventually drove Diaz-Delgado to the area of Sixth Avenue and Assunpink Boulevard in Hamilton, where the victim was shot multiple times. DiazDelgado’s bullet-hole-riddled body was found by police on March 24.
Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr., who joined Harrison at Tuesday’s press conference, said situations like this have occurred before in the city.
“These are different times that we’re living in,” Parrey said. “We’ve had some instances, inclusive of the tragedy, where individuals have come into the city under the guise of purchasing an item only to be robbed in essence of that property as well as money. What the plan of action is to do it in a safe area behind City Hall as discussed: plenty of lighting, plenty of cameras, plenty of police officers.”
Parrey believes the safe zone at City Hall will “make things safer for the public.”
“One thing I can’t stress enough is the simple fact if it doesn’t feel right, don’t go. If it doesn’t look right, don’t go. That item that you’re looking to sell is not worth your life,” Parrey said.
Numerous municipalities throughout the country and state have set up safe zones for internet transactions before the capital city jumped onboard.
Asked if the city was acting more reactionary than proactive by setting up the zone now, Harrison responded, “it’s really being proactive.” “I can’t speak to why the city waited, but once I saw what happened with the young man, I took the opportunity to put the initiative forward to make it happen,” said Harrison, who is running for mayor. “When you look at the situation, yes it was an atrocity, but we are taking the steps to make things in the city of Trenton better.”
Harrison was also joined at the press conference by outgoing Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, who is rumored to be supporting the councilman’s campaign.
“I want to first commend and thank Councilman Duncan Harrison for his leadership on this very important initiative,” the one-term mayor said. “We understand that the chief charge for elected officials — be it the mayor or council — are to work to ensure the safety of our residents and individuals who come into our city. I believe that this initiative continues that effort and I again thank the councilman for his efforts, leadership, and his vision to make sure that we establish safe places where e-commerce exchanges can happen.”
Jackson declined to say if he would be endorsing a candidate for mayor at the press conference ahead of the election on May 8, which is a week away.
“This is solely about a safe-designated zone. That’s what the topic is today,” Jackson said.
Harrison was also asked if he decided to roll out this initiative right before the election.
“It really has nothing to do with the election at all, and you know we’re seven days out,” Harrison.
Harrison said signs will be posted in the back of City Hall to let individuals know the area is designated as a safe zone.