Father Of 3 Killed In NJ Carjacking, Juvenile Arrested: Police Update

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police arrested a juvenile who allegedly killed a father of three during a carjacking attempt in North Jersey, authorities announced Wednesday.

The fatality took place Saturday at 12:44 p.m. on the 800-block of Bergen Street in Newark, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Department of Public Safety.

The victim was identified as Jhon Aponte Alarcon, 46, of Elizabeth.

The carjacking happened after Alarcon left his vehicle unattended while delivering packages. The suspect jumped inside the car and began to drive away – but Alarcon held onto the vehicle in an attempt to stop the theft. The vehicle then traveled southbound on Bergen Street before crashing into a parked car, causing it to overturn and crush Alarcon to death, authorities said.

The suspect got out of the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, police said.

On Tuesday, officers arrested the alleged carjacker – a minor who was not identified, as per standard police procedure.

Police have charged the juvenile with first-degree felony murder, first-degree carjacking, second-degree vehicular homicide, second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, third-degree endangering an injured victim, and third-degree theft of a motor vehicle.

One of the victim’s sons, Debyd Aponte, said his father was a hardworking man who loved his family, NBC New York reported.

“He was working, trying to provide for us, when this happens,” he said.

Aponte has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the burden of funeral and memorial costs.

The tragedy has caused “unimaginable pain and heartbreak,” he said.

“My dad was more than just a father: he was our protector, our guide, and our biggest source of strength,” Aponte wrote. “He worked hard every single day to provide for us, always putting his family before himself. His love was constant, his presence was powerful, and his absence now leaves a silence that feels impossible to fill.”

“This has completely shattered our world,” Aponte mourned. “One moment he was here, and the next he was gone. Nothing could have prepared us for this kind of pain.”

View the fundraiser or make a donation here.

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