ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – An Essex County woman has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a man at the Roxbury Motel in October, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Auraceli A. Maldonado, 24, of Irvington was charged with first-degree armed robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery, second-degree aggravated assault, and third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
On Oct. 18, at around 8:54 p.m., authorities were notified that a man had been shot while at the Roxbury Motel on Route 46 in Roxbury Township, Carroll said.
Roxbury Police officers arrived on scene, located a male victim with a gunshot wound to the leg, and provided lifesaving medical aid. The 36-year-old victim was transported to a medical center with severe but non-life-threatening injuries, Carroll said.
The suspects then fled the scene immediately after the incident, Carroll said.
A subsequent investigation revealed the victim had planned to meet with an unknown suspect at the motel. On the date of the incident, surveillance video captured a Honda Accord with New York registration arriving to the motel parking lot, and a man and a woman are depicted exiting the vehicle, Carroll said.
It is alleged that these two individuals met with the victim, and that the woman was armed with an AR-style rifle during the interaction. the two suspects then allegedly robbed the victim, who was shot in the leg during a struggle for the firearm, and fled the scene, Carroll said.
The investigation has revealed Maldonado to be the registered owner of a Honda Accord, which was observed traveling through East Hanover Township shortly after the incident, Carroll said.
Maldonado was subsequently located and detained in Middleburg, Florida on Nov 2. The male suspect has not been apprehended or charged at this time, Carroll said.
Following her arrest, Maldonado was extradited to New Jersey from Florida and is currently being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act. A preindictment conference is scheduled before the Hon. Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. on Jan. 9, 2024, Carroll said.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200 or the Roxbury Police Department at 973-448-2100, or anonymously through Morris County Crimestoppers at 973-COP-CALL or copcall.org.
