By Anne Levin

A second suspect has been charged in the shooting that closed down Trenton’s Art All Night festival early Sunday morning. Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced Tuesday that Davonne White, 26, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, is charged with three weapons offenses.

Already charged in the incident is Amir “Mir” Armstrong, 23, who is hospitalized in critical condition. The exchange of gunfire inside the historic Roebling Wire Works just before 3 a.m. Sunday injured 22 people. Tahaij Wells, identifed as a shooter, is said to have been shot and killed by police. The incident is believed to have been gang related and the festival itself was not a target.

Despite the tragic event, proponents of the popular 12-year-old festival and supporters of Trenton’s burgeoning arts scene are committed to its return next year. Billed as “24 Hours of Community, Creativity, and Inspiration,” the festival sponsored by Artworks invites anyone to exhibit art and includes musical performances, interactive art, food trucks, and more. Over 400 people volunteer, in shifts, each year. Some 25,000 people were expected to attend this year’s event, which began at 3 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to run until 3 p.m. Sunday.

The 11-year-old community organization I Am Trenton has been a supporter of Art All Night since it was founded. “We are standing by, trying to be as helpful as we can,” said Vice President Iana Dikidjiva. “In the aftermath of this, I feel people want to have a positive healing conversation on the effect the arts are having. We are big supporters and we anticipate amplifying whatever the donation mechanism is to help Art All Night and Artworks rebuild.”

Art All Night administrators did not respond to a request for comment, but a Facebook message posted Sunday morning announcing the cancellation of the remainder of the event read, “We know there are a lot of questions and a lot of speculation at this point. We’re still trying ourselves to piece this entire situation together …. We’re very shocked. We’re deeply saddened. Our hearts ache and our eyes are blurry but our dedication and resolve to building a better Trenton through community, creativity, and inspiration will never fade. Not tonight. Not ever.”

Art All Night attracts artists and onlookers from the local area and beyond. Art displayed inside the historic building — some 1,500 pieces this year — comes from amateurs and professionals of all ages. The festival has grown each year, with as much going on outside the Wire Works as on the interior. The building has entrances at each end, and one in the middle. Attendees have been free to move in and out without being checked or searched.

Onofri officially announced the charging of White at a gathering Tuesday morning at Trenton’s Friendship Baptist Church. He and other officials, including outgoing Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, incoming Mayor Reed Gusciora, and members of local clergy, were invited by Pastor John Taylor to join the Capital City Community Coalition to talk about moving forward from the incident.

Several politicians have weighed in. On Sunday morning, Governor Phil Murphy spoke at Trenton’s Galilee Baptist Church before going with his wife to visit shooting victims in area hospitals. Murphy had signed six new gun safety bills on June 13.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) sent a letter Tuesday to House Speaker Paul Ryan, requesting recognition for victims of the shooting in the form of votes on gun violence prevention legislation instead of observing a moment of silence on the House floor.

“After the tragedies that have claimed lives in cities across the country, most recently Las Vegas, Parkland, Santa Fe, and Sutherland Springs, we tend to stand quietly in the midst of our normally busy votes to honor lives lost, memorializing their names in our records. But the American people want more — specifically, common sense steps aimed at preventing incidents like these in the first place,” Watson Coleman wrote.

Her letter lists more than 70 proposals that have been introduced but not yet scheduled for debate, including two of her proposals, the STOP Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2017 and the Handgun Licensing and Registration Act. Watson Coleman recently called for action from the floor of the House, shouting “your moment of silence doesn’t save one single solitary life. Do something!” after a moment of silence observed for victims of the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas.

Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, who represents the 16th legislative district, said on Monday, “It is a tragedy. Like everyone else, I’m horrified to see one of the great community events in Trenton ripped apart by gun violence, gang violence. I was with the governor when he signed the series of bills, and it shows we have more work to do. But I think Art All Night is stronger and more important than this horrific act. I fully expect it to continue because it is a tremendous and important event.”