By: Richard L. Smith
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced a significant development in the case of the fatal shooting of Mr. Rafael Gomez in Jersey City on January 29, 2023.
Prosecutor Suarez said Mr. Sylis Lopez, from Union City, has been formally charged by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit with the tragic incident.
Lopez is facing charges that include Murder as an Accomplice, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The arrest took place at the Hudson County Correctional Facility on August 22, 2023, where Lopez was being held on an unrelated matter.
The events unfolded around 9:35 p.m. when the Jersey City Police Department received reports of gunfire near Summit Avenue and Poplar Street in Jersey City.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement discovered Rafael Gomez, a 25-year-old resident of Jersey City, with a gunshot wound to his torso.
He was swiftly transported to Jersey City Medical Center by Emergency Medical Services but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m.
The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that Gomez's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the torso, confirming the tragic nature of the incident as a homicide.
Prosecutor Esther Suarez acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit, the Jersey City Police Department, and the Union City Police Department in investigating the case and bringing about the arrest of Sylis Lopez.
As the investigation continues, individuals with any information pertinent to the case are urged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at 201-915-1345.