Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis Guzman announced today’s arrest of Nelson J. Vargas, age 24, of Lodi, for his alleged role in the drive-by-shooting death of Hansel Castillo, age 23, of Passaic, as well as the non-fatal shooting of a second male victim, age 20, of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
The investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit and the Passaic Police Department reveals that Mr. Castillo and the second male victim were shot in a drive-by-shooting, which occurred in the area of 37 Federal Street in Passaic, New Jersey, on Monday, May 15, at approximately 11:21 p.m. Mr. Castillo was pronounced deceased at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. The second victim was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound and released from St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center on May 16, 2017.
The investigation continues into whether Mr. Castillo and the second victim were the intended targets of the shooting.
Mr. Vargas is charged with Murder in the first degree, Attempted Murder in the first degree, Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the first degree, two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in the second degree and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in the second degree.
The Murder charge carries a maximum New Jersey State Prison term of up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of thirty (30) years New Jersey State Prison.
The Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder charges each carry a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years in New Jersey State Prison with an 85% parole disqualifier, pursuant to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. Lastly, the weapons offenses each carry a New Jersey State Prison Term of up to ten (10) years with a five (5) year parole disqualifier.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A suspect in a criminal case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The First Appearance for Nelson J. Vargas is scheduled for tomorrow, May 25, 2017, at 1:30 p.m., before the Honorable Thomas F. Brunt, J.M.C., in courtroom 411, of the New Courthouse in Paterson.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Passaic Police Department Detective Bureau at (973) 365-3938 or the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office “Tips” line at 1-877-370-PCPO. Information may also be provided electronically via email address: tips@passaiccountynj.org.
For further information please contact Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul DeGroot of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 837-7671, or pdegroot@passaiccountynj.org.