Man Charged In Last Night’s Apparent Road Rage Fatal Shooting  

Saturday, December 21, 2024, 2:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CLIFTON, NJ.- Late last night, an apparent road rage altercation in Clifton, New Jersey, between two drivers quickly turned deadly, leaving a 51-year-old Elmwood Park, New Jersey man dead and a 67-year-old Clifton, New Jersey man charged with his murder.

     According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, on Friday, December 20, 2024, at around 11:47 p.m., members of the Clifton Police Department responded to a report of an apparent altercation at the intersection of Lakeview and Merselis Avenues in the City of Clifton.

Police Find Victim Shot In Chest

     Upon arrival, Police Officers found a man, later identified as Robert Rogers, 51, of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, having sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Rogers was immediately transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, where, despite life-saving efforts by doctors, Mr. Rogers succumbed to the gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased a short time later.

     During the initial investigation by the Detectives of the Clifton Police Department in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Investigations Unit, Detectives determined that Mr. Rogers exited his vehicle and approached a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck that was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Lakeview Avenue and Merselis Avenue. An altercation ensued between Mr. Rogers and the driver of the Ford F-150, identified as Angel Pacheco, 67, of Clifton. During the escalation, Pacheco pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Rogers.

Charges Filed Against Pacheco

     Accordingly, Pacheco was taken into custody and formally charged with first-degree Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. 

     Pacheco was processed on the charges and was remanded to the custody of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department pending transfer to an area county jail to await his first appearance in Passaic County Central Judicial Processing Court. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office intends to file a motion to detain Pacheco pending trial.

     The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.