An innocent New Jersey 18-year-old was tragically killed Wednesday when he was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight while bringing groceries to his grandma in a city that recently broke its murder record.
Police in Paterson found Robert Cuadra - a young man described as having a promising future despite a tough upbringing - lying on the sidewalk with a bullet to the head Wednesday evening, following a heavy shootout between two men in which they fired a total of 16 shots.
Cuadra was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No arrests have been made, as police and prosecutors in Passaic County are still investigating.
Paterson, like many cities in 2021, set a record for shootings. In fact, the last two years the city has set a homicide record.
Robert Cuadra, 18, was tragically killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight between two men in Paterson, New Jersey Wednesday
Cuadra was beloved by his family and just months away from escaping a tough upbringing to earn a full scholarship to Montclair State University
At least 28 people were fatally shot in 2021, topping 2020's 27. Prior to that, the deadliest year on record had been 2014 with 25, though city officials do not have records before 1990.
'We are experiencing a volatile and violent time in our country, and in Paterson we are doing our best to protect residents both from a deadly virus and combat crime,' Mayor Andre Sayegh said at the time. 'Sadly, a number of the murders were domestic in nature and involved children.
Despite a tough upbringing rife with poverty, Cuadra was known as a hard worker and had earned a full scholarship to nearby Montclair State University for the fall of 2022.
Tuition for New Jersey residents at Montclair State runs about $13,000.
The teen balanced attending Paterson’s HARP Academy of Health Science with a full-time job.
Robert's mother, Ivernis Santiago, is heartbroken over losing her son and believed he had a bright future
Robert's friends went to the scene of the killing Thursday to write condolences for Cuadra and his family
His mother, Ivernis Santiago, is heartbroken over losing both her son and the man she saw him becoming.
'He was a good kid, he was humble, he didn't bother anyone, he didn't go outside,' she told ABC7 through tears. 'No matter what he went through he was always laughing, playing around, goofing around, he could go through something right now and then be playing around like nothing happened, he was just such a good spirit.'
'He just turned 18, all he wanted was to go to Montclair University,' Robert's aunt Kiera Jimenez added.
Another one of his aunts, Angelica Campos, has started a GoFundMe to help Robert's parents buy a headstone, one 'as beautiful as him.'
Robert's friends went to the scene of the killing Thursday to write condolences for Cuadra and his family.
Robert's aunt, Angelica Campos, started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his parents to buy a headstone
'He wasn't a street kid, he wasn't a violent kid, he was a natural, good, innocent kid,' cousin Carlos Traverso, Jr. said.
Sayegh addressed the needless loss of life in a Facebook post Thursday.
'My heart is still hurting,' he wrote. 'Yesterday we lost an 18 year-old with a very promising future. Tragically, he was caught in the crossfire of senseless gun violence. I spoke with his mother last night and assured her that my office is here to support her as she grieves the loss of her son. Please pray for her.'
Cuadra was killed in the city's 4th Ward, where four of the city's fatal shootings happened in 2021.
The area has seen a violent start to 2022, however, with five of the city's six shootings so far this year having happened in the 4th Ward. It's the ward's second homicide this year after a man was hit in the head with a rock.
A man had suffered several gunshot wounds in the same block Cuadra was found lying unconscious on just weeks earlier.
Notably, the city was still under remote learning this week due to an increase of COVID cases, despite Paterson touting a 100 percent vaccination rate.
A 58-year-old man named Sean who lives in the area shared his disgust.
'I stay in my house,' Sean said. 'I don't want to see anyone get killed. I've lived here for 25 years, and things are getting worse. It seems like there is a shooting on Godwin every other day.
'I stay inside. If they want to hurt each other, go ahead,' he added.
It comes as many American cities continue to grapple with sickening violence.
Earlier this week, just 20 miles away from Paterson in the Bronx, an 11-month-old baby from The Bronx was shot in the face by a stray bullet while sitting in her parents' car overnight.
The shooting of the child, identified by her family as Catherine Ortiz, shocked the city, which is grappling with rising crime rates of its own and mounting public safety concerns.
Just this Sunday, A British doctor visiting the US has been killed in his sleep by a stray bullet fired 'recklessly' from a nearby apartment complex.
Matthew Willson, 31, was visiting his girlfriend in a desirable upmarket suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, when he was killed in the freak incident.
Post a Comment