Middlesex County law enforcement officials announced today that two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of Rafael Florez-Lopez, 39, of New Brunswick and the non-fatal shooting of another man.
Police say on November 7, at approximately 9:55 p.m., authorities responded to the area of Seaman Street and Remsen Avenue following the report of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, officers located Florez-Lopez and another male who sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Both men were transported to a nearby hospital where Florez-Lopez died of his injuries.
An investigation by Detective Victor Delgado of the New Brunswick Police Department and Detective Ryan Tighe of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office identified Jajuan Hill-Staten, 34, of Stock Bridge, Georgia, as the gunman.
The investigation also determined Quron Hoagland, 28, of North Brunswick, drove Hill-Staten to the vicinity of the shooting and transported him from the area immediately afterwards.
Police arrested Hoagland on November 12, and charged with two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of first-degree attempted murder.
Following a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court, Hoagland was detained pending the resolution of the charges and is lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center.
On November 29, Hill-Staten was arrested and charged with first- degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.
Hill-Staten was apprehended in Florida where he was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Winter Haven Police Department. Hill-Staten remains in custody in Florida pending an extradition hearing.
Upon his return to New Jersey, he will be lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.
At present, the murder does not appear to be a random act.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Victor Delgado of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732)745-5200 or Detective Ryan Tighe of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)745-4335.