NORTH BERGEN — Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Gaetano Gregory announced on Monday that 33-year-old Thomas Lopez from the Bronx has been charged with murder, robbery, and felony murder for his alleged involvement in the August 19 death of North Bergen resident Carlos Restrepo, according to a press release from the County Prosecutor’s Office. Detectives located and arrested Lopez early Monday morning at his residence which is on Barretto Street. The release states that his bail was set for $1 million by Judge Joseph Isabella.
On Aug. 19, the victim was found dead in his Second Avenue apartment of North Bergen. According to the press release, his autopsy, which was conducted by the North Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, concluded that his death was by strangulation.
According to the press release, acting Prosecutor Gregory thanked the New York Police Department, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, The Port Authority Police Dept., the North Bergen Police Dept., the New Jersey Transit Police, the New York City Dept. of Corrections and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for their help with the investigation that led to the arrest of Lopez.
Gregory does not foresee any further arrests but the investigation is still ongoing. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office urges anyone with information to contact their Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.