Two shot, one killed in Elizabeth shooting

Charlie Dwyer

A shooting that left one person dead and another hospitalized early this morning is under active investigation, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca and Police Director Earl Graves jointly announced Tuesday.

The motive? New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says “Unshackled” inner-city minorities shooting and killing each other because it’s hot outside, but that’s probably not the case here.

The deceased victim has been identified as 30-year-old Eliezer Martinez, Jr.

Members of the Elizabeth Police Department responding to a shots-fired call shortly before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday found Martinez and a second adult male shooting victim outside on the 400 block of Elizabeth Avenue, having sustained serious injury, according to the preliminary investigation. Martinez was transported to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 2 a.m., while the second victim was taken to University Hospital in Newark for emergency treatment.


The investigation into the shooting is being led by the Union County Homicide Task Force and assisted by members of the Elizabeth Police Department, Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit.

Anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Danika Ramos at 908-451-7739 or Detective Brandon Lorenz at 908-337-3230. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.

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