Man Charged With Murder In Passaic Drive-By Shooting

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Bergen County man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Passaic man who was killed in a drive-by shooting May 15.

Nelson J. Vargas, 24, of Lodi, was also charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and three weapons possession charges, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced Wednesday.

Hansel Castillo, 23, died after he and another man were shot in a drive-by shooting near 37 Federal St. in Passaic at about 11:21 p.m. May 15, Valdes said.

The prosecutor's office Major Crimes Homicide Unit and the Passaic Police Department are investigating whether Castillo and the other victim were the intended targets of the shooting, Valdes said.

Vargas faces a possible life sentence in state prison on the murder charge, with a minimum 30-year sentence if convicted. The attempted murder and conspiracy charges each carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Vargas was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Passaic Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-365-3938.

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photo: Nelson J. Vargas, 23 — Passaic County Prosecutor's Office/Background image via Shutterstock