Manuel "Manny" Colon, a 61-year-old man, was fatally shot on the evening of Sunday, June 21, 2026, in North Bergen, New Jersey. The incident occurred at approximately 10:20 p.m. on Paterson Plank Road, in the vicinity of 14th Street, near The Mews apartment complex. North Bergen Police Department officers responded to reports of shots fired and discovered Colon with an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit and the North Bergen Police Department are jointly investigating the killing, which they are treating as a domestic dispute.
During the initial phase of their investigation, law enforcement identified 59-year-old Luciano Vargas as a person of interest in connection with Colon's death. Authorities later located Vargas at his residence in Wayne, New Jersey. Upon the arrival of the Wayne Police Department, Vargas barricaded himself inside his home. This action prompted a response from the Passaic County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, leading to a standoff. Ultimately, Vargas was found deceased inside the residence from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Manuel "Manny" Colon was a respected figure in his community, serving as the financial secretary and treasurer for ATU Local 820 in Jersey City. He was also an active supporter of the ATU International Latino Caucus, and his colleagues remembered him as a dedicated union officer and a friend. An obituary described him as a man who left a legacy of love, laughter, and dedication to his family and community. The investigation into the incident, which authorities have characterized as a murder-suicide, concluded with the death of the sole suspect. Consequently, there were no arrests or court proceedings in this case. The matter is considered closed due to the death of the person of interest, Luciano Vargas.
