A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested for a violent carjacking that culminated in the death of a New Jersey father, who was trying to protect his children when he was killed.
The Lawrence, N.J. teen — who has not been named because he’s minor — was charged with first-degree felony murder in connection with the death of 27-year-old Yony Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez.
The teen was taken into custody in Trenton on Monday and is being held at Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the office of Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.
He’s also facing one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree carjacking, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and related weapons offenses, all of them stemming from the carjacking on July 12.
Investigators said Cruz-Rodriguez was standing near the open trunk of his Dodge Durango, parked near Garfield and Farragut avenues in Trenton, when a suspect slipped inside the vehicle and attempted to drive away. The victim’s two children were still in the car at the time.
In a desperate bid to rescue them, Cruz-Rodriguez attempted to climb into the back of the truck. That’s when police believe the suspect started shooting, and then crashed into two parked cars before fleeing the scene.
When authorities arrived, they found Cruz-Rodriguez fatally shot inside the overturned vehicle. His children were also in the truck, but unharmed and strapped into their car seats, police said.
“We believe this is a crime of opportunity,” Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora told ABC Philadelphia. “That someone drove at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Gusciora also dubbed the young father a hero.
“This was no less than heroic action by the father. It’s unfortunate what transpired,” he added. “We now have a young mom that’s going to raise two kids on her own.”
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
