Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on July 8, Jorge Santiago-Garcia, 32, of Lakewood, was indicted on charges of Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in connection with the death of Rodrigo Jimenez-Paz in Lakewood on August 31, 2020.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, on August 31, 2020, members of the Lakewood Township Police Department were called to a business on 2nd Avenue in Lakewood in response to multiple 911 calls indicating an individual had been stabbed at that location.
Prosecutor Billhimer said that responding Officers found Rodrigo Jimenez-Paz, 29, of Lakewood, with a stab wound to his chest.
Medical units transported Mr. Jimenez-Paz to Jersey Shore University Medical Center; lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and he was subsequently pronounced dead.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit and Lakewood Police Department identified Jorge Santiago-Garcia as the individual who stabbed Mr. Jimenez-Paz.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer Santiago-Garcia was arrested and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.