Edgar Rios was named Trenton Police Officer of the year at the Trenton Country Club in April 2007. His wife Merilda Rios pinched his cheek in affection.

TRENTON — Two Trenton police officers were wounded this morning in a shootout with a suspect while following up on a domestic violence investigation in the city's East Ward.

UPDATE: Officers out of surgery, one remains in critical condition

The suspect was killed in the shootout. Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini said one of the officers was shot in shoulder and the other was shot in the back.

Police Director Ralph Rivera identified the officers as Jim Letts, 45, of Hamilton, a more than 15-year veteran of the Trenton police department, and Edgar Rios, 53, of Hamilton, a more than 30-year veteran of the Trenton police. Rios, a detective, was named Trenton's officer of the year in 2007.

Letts is out of surgery and Rios is still undergoing surgery this morning, Rivera said.

"I want everyone in the public to pray for our officers," Rivera said. "These two officers are excellent officers."

Trenton Council President George Muschal, a former police officer who served with Rios, said Rios "is still in surgery and has some life-threatening problems," during an afternoon press conference outside the hospital.

Letts has been moved to a regular patient room at the hospital, Muschal said.

"He appears to be doing better than when he came in," Muschal said of Letts. "He’s in a room and out of critical care.”

The aunt of the woman involved in the domestic violence incident identified the shooter as Eric McNeil, 23.

McNeil was released from state prison in May after serving three years and four months on a robbery and weapons conviction in Mercer County, according to Department of Corrections records.

The two detectives were following up on a domestic violence incident that occurred at about 2:30 a.m., Bocchini said. The victim was taken to the police station and a warrant was drawn up for her boyfriend’s arrest, he said.

Officers went to the house on the first block of Hobart Avenue at 8:43 a.m. to photograph the house as part of the domestic violence investigation when they were surprised by the suspect, who was leaving the house, Bocchini said.

The domestic violence victim said "That's him" to the officers and the suspect opened fire, Mercer County First Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said. A gun battle ensued that left the two officers wounded.

The aunt of the domestic violence victim said McNeil had not been dating her niece for long. She said her niece had signed a restraining order against him at the police station this morning.

The aunt said her niece was beaten by the man and he had killed her dog.

Bocchini confirmed that a dog had been stabbed to death inside the house and the woman had been beaten, prompting the domestic violence call.

“Evidently she had been beaten up pretty well by this guy,” Bocchini said.

The wounded officers were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. Bocchini said they were conscious and talking.

Reached by phone late this morning, City Council President George Muschal said he and Mayor Tony Mack were at the hospital visiting the wounded officers.

Letts seemed to be "OK," but Rios was still in surgery, Muschal said.

Mack declined to comment, telling the council president his office would put out a statement shortly, Muschal said.

Rios was named the George P. Hresko Police Officer of the Year in 2007. Other officers said at the time that the homicide detective had a reputation as one of the department’s best and most seasoned investigators.

Rios said at the time that he was having a “really good run” serving the force.

"I don't think there's anything I'd change, and I love my job," Rios said. "And that's probably why I'm still around."

Since he became a detective in 1990, he has interrogated murder suspects on the streets and in interview rooms and regular testified in court on big cases he has solved.

Rios is part of a law enforcement family, with a brother, Bobby Rios, who is a detective in Trenton and a niece and cousin who are city officers.

Today's incident comes as Trenton suffers through a plague of gun violence in the wake of mass police layoffs amid sweeping budget cuts in 2011.

Trenton Homicides in 2013

There have been 29 homicides in Trenton this year. The record for homicides in a year is 31.

The state Office of the Attorney General has called a press conference for this afternoon on a warrant sweep conducted this morning in Trenton and to announce a new anti-crime initiative for the city. The warrant sweep was unrelated to this morning's shooting in the domestic violence case.

“We can’t tolerate this," said Muschal, the city council president. "We’re going to do our best, do whatever we can to stop the violence in the city of Trenton. It’s gotten out of control.”

Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said Trenton officials have been assured assistance in the fight against gun violence in the city.

“The other police departments are coming to assist Trenton. They’ve given us their word they’re willing to do what they can to come and support us,” Holly-Ward said this afternoon. “We’re not looking at it as just the Trenton police department anymore. We’re looking at a team effort that has heard the cry of the capital city.”

2 trchristie HINDASH.JPG

CONNECT WITH US: On mobile or desktop:

• Like Times of Trenton on Facebook

• Follow @TimesofTrenton on Twitter

