Man Convicted Of Killing Union County Mother Of Four Sentenced To 40 Years

The Newark man convicted of fatally shooting an Elizabeth mother of four in 2010 has been sentenced to 40 yearsin state prison.

According to the terms set down last week by state Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield, Eduardo Lago is required to serve more than 38 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

According to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office:

On the morning of November 14, 2010, Lago rang the doorbell of the Erie Street home of Gloria Francisco, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Albert Cernadas Jr., who prosecuted the case.

Lago, who had lived at the home for a short time during the months leading up to the shooting, was looking for Francisco’s son that morning, Prosecutor Cernadas said.

The son and Lago were friends who had recently quarreled when the former decided to switch gang affiliations.

Both Francisco and her sister, 35-year-old Yessinia Feliciano, answered the door to find Lago outside.

Lago pulled out a gun and fired, fatally striking Feliciano in the chest; he later explained to two friends that

“one of them had to go,” Prosecutor Cernadas said.

Feliciano left behind four children.

A joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department identified Lago as a suspect, and he was arrested shortly thereafter.

Following a weeklong trial and about five hours of deliberation, a Union County jury in January convicted Lago of murder and two weapons offenses.