Relatives of man murdered at 2004 rap record promotion party cheer when suspect is seen in jail via video link; bail set at $1 million, cash only

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Relatives of a man gunned down in the parking lot of a Jersey City bar in 2004 rose to their feet and cheered when his accused killer made his first court appearance on the murder charge yesterday and was told his bail was $1 million cash only.

On Friday, Almalik Ward, 34, was arrested in Newark on charges he murdered Robert "Tito" Montanez, 31, of Baldwin Avenue in Jersey City, outside the Ringside Bar on Tonnelle Avenue on Dec. 16, 2004, officials said.

More than a dozen of Montanez's family members and friends were on hand when he appeared in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City yesterday afternoon via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

"I hope he stays in jail," said the victim's tearful daughter, Tianna Montanez, 19, after the hearing. "My father was my best friend."

The victim's brother, Louis Ocasio, hugged his niece outside the Hudson County Administration Building and said: "I just hope justice will be revealed for him so he can rest."

Robert Montanez was CEO of a local record label and on the night he was shot he was at a promotional party at the Ringside attended by rappers including AKON, Capone and Noriega.

The confrontation began while Montanez, Capone and others stood in the bar's parking lot at Tonnelle and Manhattan avenues, officials said.

Montanez's brother, Louis Ocasio, witnessed the shooting and said three men bumped into Montanez's group and one of them commented on Capone's necklace. He said the man reached for the necklace, Montanez stepped in, and the man pulled out a gun and opened fire.

The complaint says numerous witnesses saw Ward brandish a handgun and heard several shots fired before the gun was wrestled away.

While Montanez fought for his life at the Jersey City Medical Center, rapper Fat Joe was among those who visited his bedside.

Ward was a suspect early in the investigation, but homicide detectives only recently received information that led to murder charges being filed Wednesday, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.

Hudson prosecutor says positive identifications by witnesses bring Newark man's arrest in killing of Jersey City record label CEO 6 years ago

Saturday, November 20, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Hudson County homicide detectives arrested a Newark man yesterday in a 6-year-old Jersey City murder case.

Almalik Ward, 34, is charged with gunning down 31-year-old Robert "Tito" Montanez of Baldwin Avenue in Jersey City when he intervened in a robbery in the parking lot of the Ringside Bar on Tonnelle Avenue on Dec. 16, 2004, officials said.

Ward was arrested in Newark on a complaint signed Wednesday by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan that also charges him with robbery and weapons offenses and sets his bail at $1 million cash only, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.

"This defendant was a suspect early on in the investigation, but we did not have sufficient positive identifications to obtain a warrant," the prosecutor said.

"The investigation has been ongoing, and we recently received information when the defendant was seen by witnesses to the shooting and he was positively identified."

Montanez was CEO of a local record label and on the night he was shot he was at a promotional party at the Ringside attended by rappers including AKON, Capone and Noriega. The confrontation began while Montanez, Capone and others stood in the bar's parking lot on the northwest corner of the intersection, DeFazio said.

Montanez's brother Louis witnessed the shooting and said three men bumped into Montanez's group and one of them commented on Capone's necklace. He said the man reached for the necklace, Montanez stepped in, and the man pulled out a gun and opened fire.

The complaint says numerous witnesses saw Ward brandish a handgun and heard several shots fired before the gun was wrestled away.

While Montanez fought for his life at the Jersey City Medical Center, rapper Fat Joe was among those who visited his bedside.

Ward is expected to make his first appearance on the charges Monday in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City.