Mario Soriano, a 28-year-old man who had lived in Bridgeton, New Jersey, for most of his life, was remembered by his family as an adventurous person and a bright light who lit up any room he entered. A veteran of the United States Army Reserve and a home remodeler by trade, he enjoyed traveling and working out. He was a beloved son, brother, and father to a daughter.
On the evening of June 3, 2021, gunshots shattered the calm on the 100 block of North Pearl Street in Bridgeton shortly after 10 p.m. When police officers arrived, they found a crime scene in a backyard, but the victim was gone. Friends had already rushed Mario Soriano to Inspira Hospital. He died there a short time later from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation quickly focused on a suspect. A witness at the scene told police that David Morales-Olmedo had shot Soriano several times before fleeing in a gray or silver SUV.
The day after the shooting, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Morales-Olmedo, charging him with murder and related weapons offenses.
For nearly three years, Morales-Olmedo remained a fugitive, and authorities warned the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous. The search came to an end in February 2024. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended Morales-Olmedo at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Southern California as he attempted to enter the United States from Mexico. He was arrested and held in the San Diego Central Jail.
The following month, in March 2024, David Morales-Olmedo was extradited to New Jersey to face the charges against him. A judge ordered him to be held in jail pending his trial.
