By: Richard L. Smith
Bergen County officials announced the arrests of two Moonachie residents accused of fabricating a violent home invasion and covering up the circumstances of a shooting.
According to a statement released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, 30-year-old Juan B. Rodriguez-Santos and 29-year-old Lisa M. Palacio were taken into custody following a joint investigation by county detectives and the Moonachie Police Department.
Authorities said the case began on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, when officers responded to a 9-1-1 call from the couple’s residence around 6:42 a.m.
Police found Rodriguez-Santos suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, treated, and later released.
Initially, Rodriguez-Santos told officers he had been stabbed, before later claiming that an armed intruder had entered the home, attempted to rob him, and then shot him.
Palacio also first claimed that an intruder had been involved but later admitted she did not know what happened.
Investigators determined that Rodriguez-Santos had in fact shot himself and that Palacio hid the firearm from responding officers. Detectives also discovered Rodriguez-Santos was in possession of other individuals’ personal identifying information.
Rodriguez-Santos was charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree false reporting, hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, and trafficking in personal identifying information.
Palacio was charged with second-degree false reporting, hindering apprehension, and tampering with evidence.
Both were arrested on October 15, 2025, and held at the Bergen County Jail. 
They made their first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court the following day, where they were released pending further court action.
The case remains under investigation.