19-Year-Old Arrested And Charged In Jersey City Homicide

19-Year-Old Arrested And Charged In Jersey City Homicide


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Raymond Worrall

PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org

TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor

WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org

DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 2018

19-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN JERSEY CITY HOMICIDE

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On January 30, 2018, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit arrested Kahsaun Bell in connection with a shooting that occurred Monday evening on Rose Avenue in Jersey City. The victim in the shooting, Angel Cruz, age 18, of Jersey City, died Tuesday morning from the gunshot wounds he sustained in the incident.

Bell, age 19, from Roselle, was arrested without incident on Wade Street in Jersey City shortly after 3:00 p.m. He has been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, a second-degree crime; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, a second-degree crime.

Bell was processed and then transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny. He is expected to have his first appearance in Criminal Justice Reform Court in the CJP Courtroom in the Hudson County Administration Building this afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

In addition to the Homicide detectives, Prosecutor Suarez credited the Jersey City Police Department for assisting with the arrest.

On January 29, 2018, at approximately 9:35 p.m., Jersey City Police Officers responded to a report of possible gunshots in the area of Rose Avenue in Jersey City. Upon arrival to a home located on Rose Avenue, responding officers found Cruz inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.

The victim was transported to Jersey City Medical Center by Emergency Medical Services where he was treated for his injuries. Cruz was pronounced dead shortly after 3:20 a.m. on January 30, 2018. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds to his torso and extremities, and the manner of death to be homicide.

The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit continues to actively investigate this case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).