On the evening of May 1, 2021, Jose Figueroa, a 21-year-old man from Newark, New Jersey, was found lying in the street in Paterson, having been shot multiple times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. His death was the result of a coordinated and planned ambush.
Investigators determined that the attack was orchestrated by several individuals.
The plan involved multiple shooters who were brought to the intersection of Totowa Avenue and Redwood Avenue to carry out the assault on Figueroa. What unfolded was a violent ambush that left the young man with fatal wounds. The motive behind the killing was later described as a dispute between rival gangs.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement launched an extensive investigation that led to the arrests of several suspects. Among those taken into custody were 19-year-old Chelsee Ramirez and a 17-year-old male. Authorities charged them with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, alleging they orchestrated the deadly attack. As the investigation progressed, more individuals were implicated in the crime. Jaquan A. Thomas, 31, was identified as one of the planners of the fatal ambush and was apprehended in Delaware by U.S. Marshals. Another suspect, 20-year-old Mick Cadet, was also arrested and charged with murder.
Ultimately, at least seven individuals were charged in connection with Figueroa's death. The legal process culminated in the conviction of two of the key figures in the plot. Jaquan Thomas, the mastermind behind the ambush, was found guilty of first-degree murder. Another man, 21-year-old Ismael Leon, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter for his role in the killing.
