Hudson County Prosecutor Says Suspect Was Seventeen At The Time Of The 2024 Killing

Thursday, February 12, 2026, 2:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News, 

BAYONNE, NJ.- A juvenile charged in connection with the 2024 fatal shooting of a Bayonne teenager will now be prosecuted as an adult, Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello announced on Tuesday.

     According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the juvenile case against Ramel Johnson, 19, of Jersey City, New Jersey, has been waived to criminal court, where Johnson will face adult charges stemming from the death of John Dominguez, 17, of Bayonne, New Jersey.

     Johnson is charged with first-degree Manslaughter; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Authorities confirmed Johnson was 17 years old at the time of the offense, which qualifies the case for waiver to adult criminal court under New Jersey law.

     The fatal incident occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2024, when officers from the Bayonne Police Department, along with the Bayonne Fire Department, responded to reports of an unresponsive male inside an apartment building located at 124 West Third Street.

     Emergency responders located a teenage male, later identified as Dominguez. He was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Bayonne Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 3:00 p.m., officials said.

     The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be a gunshot wound to the torso and ruled the Manner of Death a Homicide.

     Prosecutor Mello’s office did not release additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting, potential motive, or whether any additional individuals may face charges. The case remains under active prosecution.

     If convicted, Johnson faces significantly greater sentencing exposure than he would have under the juvenile justice system, reflecting the seriousness of the charges and the court’s determination that the case warranted adult prosecution.

     No further information was released as of publication as to the custody status of Johnson.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”