In the late hours of a Sunday evening in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the life of 39-year-old Rafael Florez-Lopez was tragically cut short. On November 7, 2021, at approximately 9:55 p.m., the sound of gunfire echoed in the area of Seaman Street and Remsen Avenue. When authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered Mr. Florez-Lopez and another man, both having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The two men were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention, but Rafael Florez-Lopez ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation that followed the shooting was a collaborative effort between the New Brunswick Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. Their diligent work led them to identify two men in connection with the fatal shooting. The investigation pointed to Jajuan Hill-Staten, a 34-year-old from Stock Bridge, Georgia, as the alleged gunman. It was also determined that 28-year-old Quron Hoagland of North Brunswick had driven Hill-Staten to and from the scene of the crime.
Within days of the incident, the investigation began to yield arrests. On November 12, 2021, authorities apprehended Quron Hoagland. He faced a string of serious charges, including two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of first-degree attempted murder. Following a pre-trial detention hearing, Hoagland was detained at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center. Later that month, on November 29, the alleged shooter, Jajuan Hill-Staten, was located and arrested in Florida by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Winter Haven Police Department. He was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose. Hill-Staten was held in custody in Florida, awaiting extradition back to New Jersey to face the charges against him. Officials have stated that the murder does not appear to be a random act.
