In the early morning hours of February 24, 2019, the Jersey City Police Department received a report of an unresponsive male at 410 Monmouth Street. Upon arrival at approximately 7:25 a.m., officers discovered the body of 35-year-old Brandon Magwood in the ground floor hallway of the building. He was pronounced dead at the scene roughly 15 minutes later.
An investigation by the Regional Medical Examiner's Office later determined that Magwood's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department, immediately launched an active investigation into the suspicious death. Their efforts quickly identified a suspect, and two days later, on February 26, 2019, a warrant was issued for the arrest of 52-year-old Victor Lopez, also of Jersey City. Lopez had fled the area following the incident.
Acting on the warrant, the Boston Police Department apprehended Victor Lopez in Boston on February 28, 2019, at approximately 10:00 p.m. He was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a handgun, and certain persons not to have a firearm. Lopez awaited extradition back to Hudson County to face the charges.
On June 15, 2021, Victor Lopez pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of Brandon Magwood. The plea was entered before Superior Court Judge Vincent Militello, with members of Magwood's family present. Subsequently, on August 30, 2021, Judge Militello sentenced Lopez to 16 years in New Jersey State Prison. The sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, requiring Lopez to serve 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole.
