HUDSON COUNTY — Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio in a interview in a local daily newspaper this weekend called for the closing of the Ringside Lounge, the sports bar located on Tonnele Avenue in Jersey City, after a former Jersey City resident was shot dead in the bar on Wednesday.
DeFazio said Irvington resident Adrian Gerena, 23, formerly of Union Street in Jersey City, was shot once in the chest and once in the forehead at about 11:20 p.m. in the back room of the Ringside Lounge while he was playing a card game.
DeFazio said a 34-year-old Jersey City man who was playing cards with Gerena was shot in the arm but suffered minor injuries and was treated at and then released from the Jersey City Medical Center.
DeFazio said according to an investigation, the gunman and a second man entered the bar and walked to the back bar room where they argued briefly with the two victims, in connection due to a prior dispute.
DeFazio said the alleged shooter has been identified as a Jersey City man and there is a warrant outstanding for his arrest. Surveillance video from the bar showed the man in the establishment at the time of the shooting.
DeFazio also said in the interview that the lounge should be closed down by action of the Jersey City Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, saying the shooting is the latest in such incident in recent years at the Ringside.
On Dec. 16, 2004, Jersey City rap promoter Robert “Tito” Montanez was shot twice in the chest and killed in the parking lot of the Ringside in a dispute over jewelry. Another gunfire incident occurred on Sept. 9, 2006 in the parking lot.
Anyone with information can call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345. – RK