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Jose Cruz

Death by Force
Case Description
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On January 11, 2018, Jose Cruz, aged 55, was tragically killed in a murder-suicide incident in Ellenville, New York. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Canal Lock apartments. Cruz was shot by Efrain Lopez, a 55-year-old trustee for the Village of Ellenville. Lopez, who had been a longtime domestic partner of Margarita Soto, approached Cruz's car and shot him as he exited the vehicle. Lopez then proceeded to shoot Soto, who was in the passenger seat, before turning the ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (11)
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  • Ellenville man, a village trustee and longtime school employee, fatally shoots two and takes own life
  • ABC7 New York: Village trustee ID'd as gunman in double murder-suicide
    •     ...View 9 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Jose Cruz

    Male

    Hispanic / Latino

    Ellenville

    NY

    2018-01-11

    55

    Jose

    Cruz

    11/15/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    I’ve been following the discussion around the tragic events in Ellenville, and I can't stop thinki... ...Read More
    07/01/2024
    Has anyone else been reflecting on how someone with no prior reports of violence can commit such an ... ...Read More
    05/20/2024
    Has anyone looked into any potential warning signs that someone as seemingly mild-mannered as Efrain... ...Read More
    11/23/2023
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