Jersey City Man Pleads Guilty in 2019 Aggravated Manslaughter of 35-Year Old

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Victor Lopez, age 54, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter in relation to the fatal shooting of Brandon Magwood, of Jersey City, that occurred on February 24, 2019.  The Honorable Judge Vincent Militello, J.S.C. presided over the plea hearing which was attended by family members of the victim.

The State is recommending a sentence of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act.

On February 24, 2019, at approximately 7:25 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of an unresponsive male at 410 Monmouth Street in Jersey City. Responding Jersey City Police Officers found an unresponsive male, later identified as Magwood, age 35, of Jersey City.  He was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:40 a.m.  The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death to be homicide.

Lopez was arrested on February 28, 2019, in Boston after fleeing the jurisdiction.

Sentencing in this case has been scheduled for August 30, 2021 before the Honorable Judge Vincent Militello, J.S.C.   The State is represented in this case by Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.