Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department, Joe A. Vega, from Passaic, was arrested on Monday in relation to a shooting investigation/motor vehicle accident that took place the same day.
Mr. Vega is charged with Attempted Murder, First Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Second Degree; Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; Aggravated Assault, Second Degree (two counts); Possession of a High Capacity Magazine, Fourth Degree, Possession of Dum-Dum bullets, Fourth Degree; Endangering an Injured Victim, Third Degree, Knowingly Leaving Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Third Degree; and Resisting Arrest by Eluding in a Motor Vehicle, Second Degree.
According to police, on Monday, a male actor in a motor vehicle pointed a handgun and fired at another vehicle that was being operated by an off-duty Passaic Police Officer in the area of Monroe Street Passaic.
Police say the off-duty officer was not injured.
A short time later the shooter’s vehicle crashed in the area of Myrtle Avenue and Sherman Street Passaic, NJ striking another vehicle. After the crash the shooter fled the scene.
A 35-year-old female Union City resident and a 36- year-old female North Bergen resident were injured as a result of the motor vehicle accident.
The actor was later located and arrested in the area of Sherman Street Passaic and identified as Joe A. Vega.
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Vega on First Degree Attempted Murder is 10-20 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole pursuant to the No Early Release Act and 5 years parole supervision; on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on Second Degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act, on each count of Second Degree Aggravated Assault it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole pursuant to the No Early Release Act and 3 years parole supervision; on Second Degree Resisting Arrest by Eluding
in Motor Vehicle it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison; on Possession of a High Capacity Magazine it is up to 18 months New Jersey State Prison, on Fourth Degree Possession of Dum- Dum Bullets it is up to 18 months New Jersey State Prison; on Endangering an Injured Victim it is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison, and on Knowingly Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury it is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison.
The State intends to file a motion for pretrial detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or contact the Passaic Police Department at 973-365-3900.