Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced the arrest of Rafael Velez, 26, of Newark for the homicide of Edgardo Ruiz, 42, of Newark. Velez was also charged with weapons offenses and conspiracy.
On April 20, 2010 Newark police responded to a report of shots fired. When they arrived in the 500 block of North 11th Street they discovered Ruiz lying in the street suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to University Hospital were he was pronounced dead.
Information uncovered as part of the investigation led police to three suspects. In addition to the arrest of Velez, warrants have been issued for Adrian Torres (aka George Lopez), 35, of Elizabeth and Anthony Ruiz (aka Michael Santiago), 31, of Newark.
Torres and Ruiz remain at-large. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses, according to Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, head of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide Squad.
Velez was arrested by detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Police Department. Bail for Velez was set at $500,000 by the Honorable Judge Peter J. Vazquez.
The charges are mere accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
