Juan Ortiz

On a summer morning in North Bergen, New Jersey, the life of Juan Ortiz, a 31-year-old Hispanic man, was tragically cut short. Shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024, police responded to reports of an injured person near the intersection of Meadowview Avenue and 61st Street. Upon their arrival, they discovered Juan, a resident of North Bergen, suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Emergency services transported him to Palisades Medical Center, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:40 a.m.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit, in conjunction with the North Bergen Police Department, immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. Authorities believed the incident was related to a robbery, and their work quickly led to the identification of two suspects. Within a day of the shooting, investigators arrested 24-year-old James Baker of Secaucus and 21-year-old Arwa Elmohdli of North Bergen in connection with Juan’s death.

Baker was charged with a string of serious offenses, including murder, felony murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit a robbery, and several weapons-related charges. Elmohdli was charged with felony murder as an accomplice, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Both were taken into custody and held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearances.

James Baker later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated manslaughter. On March 27, 2026, Superior Court Judge Angelo Servidio sentenced Baker, then 26, to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. The sentence was issued under the No Early Release Act, which requires that he serve at least 85% of his term before becoming eligible for parole. This sentencing in March 2026 marked the latest development in the case.