A New Jersey father was fatally shot as he climbed into a moving car to save his children during an alleged carjacking last month, leading to the arrest of a juvenile this week.
Yoni Emanuel Cruz-Rodriguez, 27, was shot multiple times when a 17-year-old allegedly tried to drive away with his vehicle with his two children inside on July 12, authorities said, per The Trentonian, NJ 101.5 and FOX 29 report.
(The victim, a native of Honduras, was identified as Yony Emmanuel Cruz-Rodriguez in American media reports, but a GoFundMe launched by his brother identifies him as Yoni Emanuel Cruz-Rodriguez, which is how he’s identified in some media reports from Honduras.)
Authorities in Mercer County, N.J., say they arrested the 17-year-old on Monday, July 29, and charged him with several offenses including murder, per the outlets.
On July 12, police responded to a report of an overturned car in Trenton, where they found Cruz-Rodriguez dead inside the vehicle with his two children, who were unharmed, The Trentonian and NJ 101.5 report, citing Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. The GoFundMe from his family said he had a 3-year-old boy and 2-month-old girl.
Cruz-Rodriguez, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
During their investigation, police say they learned from witnesses that the father was standing at the back of the car when the suspect allegedly ran into the vehicle and tried to drive away, per FOX 29, NJ 101.5 and NBC Philadelphia.
Cruz-Rodriguez quickly climbed into the vehicle to protect his children, police said, when the teen allegedly shot him several times, per NBC Philadelphia and FOX 29.
The teen then allegedly crashed the vehicle into two cars, flipping the vehicle upside down, before fleeing the scene, police said, per the outlets.
Authorities found the two children inside, strapped into their car seats, unharmed, FOX 29, The Trentonian and NJ 101.5 report, citing police accounts.
In the GoFundMe, the victim’s brother said the family are raising fund to assist with sending his body back to his native Honduras.
The suspect, who has not been named because he’s a juvenile, is facing charges of felony murder, carjacking, and aggravated assault, per the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, The Trentonian, NJ 105 and NBC Philadelphia.
He is also facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child and weapons offenses, per authorities, The Trentonian and NJ 105 report.
It wasn’t immediately clear if he has entered pleas or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
