In the late afternoon of October 18, 2023, the life of 18-year-old Jesus Manuel Ortiz-Hernandez was tragically cut short in Camden, New Jersey. A ShotSpotter activation alerted Camden County Police to the 2700 block of Hayes Avenue at approximately 4:14 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers discovered the young man at 22nd Street and River Road, suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
Emergency services transported Ortiz-Hernandez to Cooper University Hospital in a critical
condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced deceased at around 7:15 p.m. that evening. The incident marked another fatal shooting in the city, prompting an active and ongoing investigation by detectives from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit and the Camden County Police Department.
Following an investigation, authorities identified a suspect in the fatal shooting. On October 27, 2023, Xavier Rivera, a 23-year-old resident of Camden City, was charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection with the death of Ortiz-Hernandez.
The search for Rivera concluded on November 30, 2023, when he was located and apprehended in Winter Haven, Florida. The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Florida / Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals NY / NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division. Following his capture, Rivera remained in Florida, awaiting extradition to face the charges against him.
