Lakewood resident indicted for murder in stabbing of man on 2nd Avenue

A Lakewood man has been indicted by a Grand Jury in Ocean County on charges including murder related to the death of a township resident last August, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Thursday.

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Jorge Santiago-Garcia, 32, of Lakewood, was also indicted for Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in connection with the death Rodrigo Jimenez-Paz.

Lakewood Police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls on August 31, 2020, (related to this incident), to a business on 2nd Avenue after witnesses reported a man had been stabbed.

It was at this location that Lakewood Police said they found Rodrigo Jimenez-Paz, 29, of Lakewood, with a stab wound to his chest.

Medical units brought Jimenez-Paz to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where lifesaving efforts were attempted but ultimately and tragically unsuccessful as he had passed away.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit and Lakewood Police investigated the fatal stabbing and were able to identify Jorge Santiago-Garcia as the suspect.

Santiago-Garcia was arrested and has been in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.