A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a New Jersey father who was shot and killed while trying to protect his children during an attempted carjacking.
The juvenile, whose name has not been released, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, first-degree carjacking, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and weapons offenses. the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.
On the morning of July 12, Trenton police found Yoni Emmanuel Cruz Rodriguez, 27, dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside an overturned white Dodge Durango.
Cruz Rodriguez’s two young children, a 2-month-old girl and a 3-year-old boy, were secured in car seats and were unharmed.
Minutes earlier, the father had left the Iglesia Profética Camino a la Salvacion church and was standing in the back of a Durango convertible when witnesses told police the boy jumped in the car and tried to drive away.
Authorities said Cruz Rodriguez tried to get into the back of the car to get to the children but was struck by multiple gunshots.
The would-be carjacker crashed his Durango into two other vehicles, flipping it over and fleeing the scene.
Cruz Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is unclear whether the teenage suspect has pleaded guilty or hired an attorney.
a A GoFundMe started by Cruz Rodriguez’s brother His family said they were trying to raise enough funds to return his body to his hometown of La Iguala Lempira in Honduras.
a Memorial service It was held on July 27th at the Trenton Church.
As of Saturday morning, the fundraiser had raised about $3,500 of its $12,000 goal.
