TWO TEENS HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL CHARGED IN THE SATURDAY MAY 1, 2021 COORDINATED FATAL SHOOTING OF A 21-YEAR-OLD NEWARK MAN
" Ismael Leon & An Unidentified 17-Year-Old Have Been Additional Charged In The Shooting Death Of Jose Figueroa, Brining The Number To Four Charged In The Tragic Event."
September 11, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
PATERSON, NJ.- On Friday, September 10, 2021 Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora announced that based upon an investigation by The Paterson Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Ismael Leon, 19, of Paterson, New Jersey and a 17- Year-Old Juvenile male from Clifton, New Jersey were arrested on Friday, September 10, 2021 in direct connection with the Saturday, May 1, 2021, Fatal Shooting area of Totowa and Redwood Avenues in the City of Paterson, New Jersey.
Mr. Leon and the 17-year-old unidentified male were charged with First Degree Murder; First Degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder; Second Degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose; and Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun.
On Saturday, May 1, 2021, at approximately 6:57 p.m., Members of The Paterson Police Department responded to the intersection of Totowa Avenue and Redwood Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, Police Officers located Jose Figueroa, 21-Year-Old from Newark, lying in the street with apparent gunshot wounds.
Mr. Figueroa was immediately transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, where he was later pronounced deceased. The subsequent investigation revealed that the shooting was a coordinated attack involving multiple shooters in multiple locations, and that Leon and the juvenile were involved in the planning and execution of the shooting.
Previously, on June 1, 2021 Chelsee Ramirez, 19, of Paterson, New Jersey and another 17-Year-Old Juvenile male, also from Paterson, New Jersey were arrested and also charged in connection with Mr. Figueroa’s murder.
Mr. Leon is currently in custody at The Passaic County Jail and the juvenile is in custody at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has filed motions for the pre-trial detention for both defendants which will be heard by a Superior Court Judge at a date and time to be determined by the Court.
The crime of First Degree Murder has a sentencing range from a minimum of 30 Years up to Life Imprisonment; Conspiracy to Commit Murder has a Sentencing Range of Ten to Twenty Years in Prison; and the crimes of Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, both have a Sentencing Range of Five to Twenty Years in Prison with 42 months to be served before Parole Eligibility.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information may become available once released by authorities.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact The Prosecutor's Office tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021: LAW, PASSAIC: