FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Thursday, March 24, 2022

SECOND JUVENILE CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH JERSEY CITY TEEN’S SHOOTING DEATH

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

A second juvenile has been charged in connection with the death of Pedro Rodriguez, 16, who was fatally shot in Jersey City on Thursday, December 16, 2021.

The 17-year-old surrendered himself to detectives with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit in Jersey City on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He is charged as a juvenile with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and 2C:11-3a(2), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1). He is being detained at the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center pending his first court appearance.

Juvenile matters are confidential and no additional information can be released at this time.

On Thursday, December 16, 2021, at approximately 11:45 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department responded to the area of 600 Communipaw Avenue on a report of shots fired. Responding officers found an unresponsive male victim at that location with apparent gunshot wounds. The victim, later identified as Pedro Rodriguez, 16, of Jersey City, was pronounced dead at the scene at
approximately 12:00 p.m. The Regional Medical Examiner determined the Cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the Manner of death to be homicide.

A second juvenile, a 17-year-old, was arrested on Monday, December 27, 2021. He is charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and 2C:11-3a(2), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b.

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