Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said on Monday, August 30, the Honorable Judge Vincent Militello, J.S.C. sentenced Victor Lopez, 54, of Jersey City, to 16 years in New Jersey state prison on the charge of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter in relation to the fatal shooting of Brandon Magwood, of Jersey City, that occurred on February 24, 2019.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said an aggravated manslaughter charge is subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires that Lopez will have to serve 85 percent before he is eligible for parole.
According to police, on February 24, 2019, at approximately 7:25 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of an unresponsive male at 410 Monmouth Street in Jersey City.
Responding Jersey City Police Officers found an unresponsive male, later identified as Magwood, 35, of Jersey City. He was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:40 a.m.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death to be homicide.
Lopez was arrested on February 28, 2019, in Boston after fleeing the jurisdiction. On June 15, 2021, Lopez pled guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in relation to the death of Magwood.
The State is represented by Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
IMAGE: Mr. Magwood