NEARBY: Trenton Man Arrested For Girlfriend’s Murder

January 16, 2025

Police outside the hotel Wednesday afternoon. Credit: Submitted

A Trenton man will be charged following Wednesday’s homicide at a Lower Bucks County hotel, authorities said Thursday.

The Bensalem Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office reported that Orenthia Upshur, 51, from Trenton, New Jersey, was arrested after he allegedly shot his girlfriend, 49-year-old Maisha Coon, also from Trenton, at the Sleep Inn on Street Road near the Route 1 and Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange in Bensalem Township.

Orenthia Upshur. Credit: Bensalem Township police

According to police, the incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday when a family member of Upshur entered the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Bensalem Township around 5 a.m. The individual reported that Upshur said he shoot Coon during a dispute, authorities said.

The family member mentioned that he had overheard them arguing over a phone call at 12:39 a.m., police said.

Following the tip, state police tracked Coon’s cell phone to the vicinity of the Country Commons Apartments, which prompted a joint search by state police, township police, and the district attorney’s office of all nearby hotels.

Police outside of the hotel Wednesday afternoon. Credit: Submitted

Upon visit the Sleep Inn, where it was discovered Coon had rented a room the previous day, law enforcement discovered her body with multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Later that morning, at around 4:30 a.m., Trenton police responded to reports of gunfire at the intersection of Parkside Avenue and Oak Lane in Trenton.

Officers heard additional shots and observed an armed individual, later identified as Upshur, entering a home, police said.

As Trenton police were on the scene, more shots were fired from inside the home until the Mercer County Tactical Response Team intervened and apprehended Upshur, authorities said.

A firearm believed to be used in the killing of Coon was recovered, police said.

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Upshur’s actions showed he had a plan of violence.

Authorities told reporters they believed Upshur planned to harm the victim’s family members in Trenton.

An image released by investigators is alleged to show Upshur holding what is stated to be a handgun at the Sleep Inn.

Bensalem Township Detectives, along with detectives from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, are continuing their investigation and anticipate filing criminal homicide and related charges against Upshur in the coming days.

Upshur is currently being held in custody in New Jersey and could also face charges there.

Bensalem Township police expressed their gratitude to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Trenton Police Department for their assistance.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.

Advertisement