Manhunt for 'shooter's pal' in home robbery killing

Thursday, January 10, 2008
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A warrant for the arrest of a Jersey City man on a felony murder charge was issued yesterday in connection with the death of a city man shot in the head during a robbery Sunday, officials said.

Rashawn Benekin, 21, has been charged in the death of Christopher Rodas, 19, who was shot once in the head at about 7 p.m. in his second-floor apartment on Old Bergen Road near Linden Avenue, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said yesterday.

On the night of the killing, someone answered the door at the residence and was confronted by at least two armed men, including Benekin, DeFazio said. During the robbery, Rodas scuffled with one of Benekin's accomplices and that man fired his gun twice, hitting Rodas once in the head, DeFazio said.

"We have good information on who the other actor is, but the investigation is ongoing," DeFazio said of the man believed to be the triggerman. "The shooter should come forward to give us his side of the story."

Rodas was pronounced dead at the Jersey City Medical Center at 10:40 a.m. the next day, officials said. Homicide detectives do not believe Benekin fired his weapon, DeFazio said.

The prosecutor said another person in the apartment reported that hundreds of dollars in cash was stolen during the crime. Numerous vials of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana were found at the scene, DeFazio said. DeFazio declined to say how many people were in the apartment at the time of the shooting.

Anyone with information on the homicide or on Benekin's whereabouts is asked to call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.

Dead at 19 - shot during home holdup

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

A man who was shot Sunday night in his Old Bergen Road apartment died yesterday, officials said.

Christopher Rodas, 19, was shot once in the head at about 7 p.m. after confronting two men who entered his second-floor apartment at 225 Old Bergen Road, between Danforth and Linden avenues, in an apparent robbery, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.

The prosecutor said two shots were fired, but only one hit Rodas, who died yesterday morning at 10:40 a.m. at the Jersey City Medical Center. It appears the gun used was a .38-caliber revolver, he said.

There were several people in the building at the time of the shooting, but no one is in custody, DeFazio said, adding that he doesn't know if Rodas knew either of the robbers.

He said another person who was present in the apartment reported hundreds of dollars in cash stolen. In addition, numerous vials of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana were found at the scene, DeFazio said. He declined to say how many people were in the apartment at the time of the shooting.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Squad and Jersey City police are investigating.

PAUL KOEPP