Possible ‘Latin Kings’ member arrested in JC shooting
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio announced on Thursday that Miguel Ortiz, 25, of Fairmount Avenue in Jersey City was arrested in Brooklyn early Thursday morning as the alleged shooter in the Dec. 30 murder at the Ringside Lounge on Tonnele Avenue in Jersey City.
DeFazio said Ortiz is charged with allegedly shooting Adrian Gerena, 23, of Irvington, in the forehead and chest in the back bar area of the Ringside while Gerena was playing cards with another individual. A third man was shot in the arm and suffered a non-life threatening injury.
DeFazio said Ortiz was arrested around 4 a.m. Thursday morning inside an apartment building on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn, where he had been staying with a female acquaintance who was unaware of his status. DeFazio said Ortiz’s arrest was the result of information gathered by DeFazio’s office, New Jersey State Police and Jersey City and New York City police.
On the night of the shooting, there was another man with Ortiz. DeFazio said that Felix Y. Rodriguez, 28, of Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, was arrested Tuesday night at his home by the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force. Rodriguez is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon, and hindering the apprehension of Ortiz. DeFazio also said there is a man being sought in connection with the Dec. 30 murder who allegedly drove Ortiz and Rodriguez away from the Ringside Lounge after the shooting.
DeFazio said Ortiz and Rodriguez have both been identified as members of the notorious Latin Kings street gang.
DeFazio said Ortiz will appear in court in New York by this weekend and can waive extradition back to New Jersey or fight to remain in New York.
Anyone with additional information about the alleged murder can call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.
Shaw autopsy shows death caused by Valium overdose
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said on Tuesday that Jack Shaw, the Jersey City political consultant arrested in July’s political corruption sting, died of a Valium overdose, according to the results of the final autopsy released by DeFazio’s office. The report was completed by the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in December and was sent to the prosecutor’s office for further analysis.
But DeFazio said the autopsy does not determine whether Shaw committed suicide, as had been rumored.
“It is believed that Valium was being used over a period of time, not just that day,” DeFazio said.
Shaw was one of 44 people charged in the federal government’s money laundering/public corruption investigation this past July. He was charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe from government informant Solomon Dwek.
Eat, meet and greet before Hammond concert
Blues fans will have an opportunity to meet blues legend John Hammond before his Jan. 15 concert at the Loew’s Jersey Theater in Journal Square. The concert is sponsored by the Journal Square Restoration Corporation and Jersey City Magazine.
A pre-concert “Sound Bites” event will be presented in cooperation with Hudson County Community College at the Culinary Conference Center’s 1st Floor Ballroom, 161 Newkirk St., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition to meeting John Hammond, the $15 cost (payable at the door) includes a “Louisiana Blues” Buffet featuring authentic New Orleans-style muffaletta sandwiches, gumbo, boudin sausages and beignets (cash bar available).
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert featuring Hammond and Duke Robillard are available in advance (Preferred Seats $27.50; General Admission $22.50) and at the door (Preferred Seats $35; General Admission $30). A $5 Student and Senior Discount (62 yrs. old and over) with ID is being offered for the performance (discount not available with online sales).
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Loew’s Box Office, 54 Journal Square, on Saturdays from 12 noon to 3 p.m., and at the Journal Square Operations Office, 4 PATH Plaza, Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are also available online at www.thenewjournalsquare.com and www.loewsjersey.org and by calling (800) 440-7654. The cost of parking for ticket holders will be reduced for the event to just $5 at Square Ramp Parking, located directly behind the theatre.
For more information about the concert series, call the Journal Square Restoration Corporation at (201) 795-1854 or visit thenewjournalsquare.com. For more information on the Loew’s Jersey Theatre call (201)798-6055 or visit loewsjersey.org.
Church concert dedicated to former pastor
The St. Michael Singers will present “This Hallowed Season: Celebrating Christ’s Birth in Word and Music,” an Epiphany concert this Sunday, Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. in St. Michael Catholic Church, Parish of the Resurrection, 252 Ninth St. in Jersey City. Joining the group on selected pieces will be the St. Mary Singers.
The concert will be dedicated to the memory of Fr. Hugh Fitzgerald, former pastor of St. Michael Church, on the 10th anniversary of his death. Free will offerings will be accepted for the benefit of the Rev. Hugh V. Fitzgerald Scholarship Fund. For further information, call (201) 653-7328.