Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the investigation of a homicide that occurred at 27 MacArthur Avenue in Garfield over the weekend.
According to a statement released by officials, on Saturday, January 19, the Garfield Police Department received a 9-1-1 call of a pedestrian struck by a train in the area of Hobart Street.
Officials say they later identified the individual struck as Mr. Manuel Ortega-Pimentel, 55, and lived at 27 MacArthur Avenue address.
Medics pronounced Ortega-Pimentel deceased at the scene according to the statement released by officials.
Officials say the investigation revealed that Ortega-Pimentel ran into the path of the train at the railroad crossing.
During an attempt to locate the next of kin for Ortega-Pimentel, a check of his last known address was conducted and the basement apartment was checked by a resident of the first floor where a deceased male was found in the basement apartment at that time officials said.
Police later identified the male as Mr. Manuel Buri, 25, and also lived at the address according to officials. The Garfield Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the crime scene was secured.
Officials say Manuel Buri was transported to the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. The investigation and examination revealed that Manuel Buri suffered multiple blunt force trauma to the head, and his death was determined to be a homicide.
Officials say Manuel Ortega-Pimentel was also transported to the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office for a post-mortem examination, and his death was determined to be a suicide.
Acting Prosecutor Calo would like to thank the Garfield Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Jersey Transit Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.