Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Deputy Chief Heriberto Rodriguez announce that through the intensive efforts of the Major Crimes Homicide Unit of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and detectives from the Paterson Police Department, an arrest was made yesterday of the suspect in the July 23, 2017, one-punch homicide of an Elizabeth man in Paterson.
This assault-turned-homicide is alleged to have occurred inside of J&G Lounge & Liquors, located at 227 Park Avenue, in Paterson, New Jersey.
The suspect is identified as Paterson resident, Luiz Martinez, 34 years of age. The victim is Agustin D. Arias-Gomez, age 53, of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
It is alleged that at approximately 8:43 p.m. on July 23, 2017, there was a brief verbal exchange between Arias-Gomez and Martinez inside of J&G Lounge & Liquors.
It is further alleged that immediately following the verbal exchange, Martinez allegedly struck Mr. Arias- Gomez across the face with single punch, causing Mr. Arias-Gomez to fall backwards and strike his head on the floor.
Mr. Arias-Gomez was transported to and treated at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey, but was later pronounced deceased on July 24, 2017.
Police charged Luiz Martinez, Reckless Manslaughter, a second degree offense.
If convicted of this charge, Martinez faces a sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment, with an eighty-five percent parole disqualifier, followed by three years of parole supervision, pursuant to New Jersey’s “No Early Release Act.”
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.
Anyone with additional information may also contact the Paterson Police Department Detective Bureau at (973) 321-1120.
The First Appearance for Luiz Martinez is scheduled for July 26, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable John F. Meola, P.J.M.C., in courtroom 411 of the New Courthouse in Paterson.