Paterson law enforcement has determined that a death previously ruled a suicide was actually a homicide, leading to criminal charges for murder.

The Paterson Police Department got a call about gunshots fired at a Paterson New Jersey apartment on September 18, 2016. When Paterson police officers arrived at the apartment, which is located on East 31st Street, they found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center paramedics soon arrived at the apartment, but they could not save the victim. Authorities pronounced the victim dead a short time later. The victim resided in Clifton NJ and was only 22 years old at the time of his death.

Paterson NJ detectives initially thought that the victim died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, New Jersey medical examiners and Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office detectives took a closer look at the victim and determined that someone else likely used a handgun to shoot the victim.

Police officers eventually identified the suspect as person who probably killed the victim. Since the suspect was already being held at the Bergen County Jail on unrelated charges, it was easy for law enforcement to find him.

The suspect has been charged with numerous crimes, including first degree murder and multiple weapons offenses.

For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Charged with Murder in What Was First Reported as a Suicide, Cops Say.”