By: Richard L. Smith
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll has reported the arrest of Ms. Auraceli A. Maldonado, a 24-year-old resident of Irvington, in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at the Roxbury Motel on October 18, 2023.
On that evening, officials said at around 8:54 p.m., authorities received reports of a shooting at the Roxbury Motel, situated on Route 46 in Roxbury.Swiftly responding to the scene, Roxbury Police officers discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg.
Immediate life-saving medical assistance was provided, and the 36-year-old victim was subsequently transported to a medical center with severe but non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspects responsible for the shooting fled the scene without delay.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the victim had arranged to meet an unidentified suspect at the motel.
Surveillance footage from the incident captured a Honda Accord with a New York registration arriving in the motel's parking lot.
A man and a woman were seen exiting the vehicle, and it is alleged that these two individuals engaged with the victim. Shockingly, the woman was reportedly armed with an AR-style rifle during the encounter.
The investigation suggests that the suspects robbed the victim, leading to a struggle for the firearm, resulting in the victim being shot in the leg.
The assailants then fled the scene.
Authorities uncovered that Maldonado was the registered owner of the Honda Accord, which was observed traveling through East Hanover shortly after the incident.
Maldonado was subsequently located and detained in Middleburg, Florida, on November 2, 2023. However, the male suspect remains at large and has not been charged as of now.
Maldonado is facing several serious charges, including Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
She has been extradited to New Jersey from Florida and is currently held at the Morris County Correctional Facility in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act.
A preindictment conference is scheduled before the Hon. Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C., on January 9, 2024, as the investigation into this disturbing incident continues.