MOONACHIE, NJ – A Bergen County couple has been charged after allegedly fabricating a home invasion and shooting that investigators say never occurred.
Authorities announced the arrests of 30-year-old Juan B. Rodriguez-Santos and 29-year-old Lisa M. Palacio, both of Moonachie, following a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Moonachie Police Department.
The pair allegedly staged the incident, which initially appeared to be a violent home invasion, early on the morning of October 14.
Key Points
- Couple accused of faking a home invasion and shooting in Moonachie
- Prosecutors say Rodriguez-Santos shot himself and Palacio hid the firearm
- Both charged with multiple offenses and later released pending court action
Investigation reveals staged crime scene
Police were called around 6:42 a.m. after the couple reported a home invasion at their residence. Responding officers found Rodriguez-Santos suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg, which he initially claimed came from an intruder. Detectives later determined he had shot himself.
Palacio first told police she saw a masked man enter their home and shoot her partner, but later retracted her statement, saying she did not know what happened. Investigators also discovered she had hidden the firearm from responding officers.
Couple faces multiple charges
Rodriguez-Santos was charged with making false reports, hindering apprehension, trafficking in personal identifying information, and tampering with evidence. Palacio was charged with making false reports, concealing evidence, hindering apprehension, and tampering with evidence.
Both were taken into custody on October 15 and remanded to the Bergen County Jail before being released the next day following a court appearance in Hackensack.
Prosecutor Mark Musella emphasized that both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.