Rutgers Student’s Accused Killer Arrested In Dominican Republic: Prosecutor

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Marshals working in the Dominican Republic arrested a second suspect wanted in connection with the April 2016 murder of a Rutgers University student from Toms River at his off-campus apartment in Newark, authorities announced Tuesday.

Federal agents apprehended Fraynned Ramirez, 26, of Hartford, at an undisclosed location in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Extradition proceedings have begun and Ramirez could be back in the United States as early as Wednesday, prosecutors said.

Ramirez was wanted for participating in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Shani Patel at an off-campus apartment on Central Avenue in Newark during an alleged robbery, authorities stated.

Patel's roommate, a 23-year-old graduate student, also suffered injuries during the tragic encounter but survived his wounds, prosecutors said.

There were no safety threats to the school community during the incident, according to authorities.

A substantial amount of drugs and money were found at the scene of the fatal shooting, and authorities believe the shooting may have occurred during a robbery, according to nj.com.

In the wake of the slaying, Nancy Cantor, Rutgers-Newark chancellor, stated that it was “a shock to lose a member of our community under any circumstances.”

• See related article: N.J. Man Charged With Killing Rutgers Student

Police arrested a second suspect in the shooting - Marcus Feliz, 25, of Newark - shortly after the incident.

Feliz is not a Rutgers University student and is not affiliated with the university, authorities previously stated.

Authorities have charged Feliz and Ramirez with murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons offenses, prosecutors stated.

A COMPLICATED PAST

Patel, a 21-year-old economics major at Rutgers-Newark, reportedly had a troubled past that included alleged drug dealing. He was sentenced to two years of probation in 2015 after he was indicted on a charge of third-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and fourth-degree possession of marijuana, according to court records.

Alex Bardis, said Patel planned to go into real estate and "flip houses," and help his Toms River family live a better life after emigrating from India.

"He had big goals and he was pursuing them, all for his mother," Bardis said.

• See related article: Slain Rutgers Student Had Troubled, Complicated Life: Friends, Neighbors Say

Photo: Shani Patel