Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County grand jury has indicted Marcus Feliz, 25, of Newark and Fraynned Ramirez, 25, of Hartford, Connecticut, for the April 10, murder of Shani Patel, a 21-old-year junior at Rutgers University’s Newark campus.
The nine count indictment also charges Feliz and Ramirez with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons charges.
Patel, a resident of Toms River, was majoring in economics. The indictment alleges that Patel and his 23-year-old roommate were shot when Ramirez and Feliz broke into their Central Avenue apartment. Patel was killed. The other victim was injured but survived.
Feliz is in custody. Ramirez remains at large, according to Assistant Prosecutor Purva Deshpande, who is handling the case. No date has been set for Feliz to be arraigned on the charges.
These charges are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.