Paulsboro Shooting Case: Judge Orders Suspect Held Without Bail After Deadly Domestic Incident
A Gloucester County judge ordered a Paulsboro man accused of killing his fiancé and injuring her teenage daughter to stay in jail while the case is being heard.
A detention hearing for 40-year-old Paulsboro resident Ramon Luis Acevedo, who faces serious charges for a January 3 shooting inside an Elizabeth Avenue residence, was held Monday. Acevedo appeared via video from the Salem County Jail, where he has remained since his arrest.
Acevedo was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and weapons crimes for purposely shooting his 36-year-old fiancé during a domestic quarrel. A gunshot wound to the back of her head killed the woman in a bedroom, according to police. Her name is unknown.
The prosecution claims Acevedo contacted 911 after the event, identifying himself and said he had shot two victims. He was arrested without incident by responding police.
Assistant Prosecutor Alec Gutierrez said that Acevedo told police he shot his fiancé purposely. He also said Acevedo claimed the weapon inadvertently discharged again, hitting the victim’s 15-year-old daughter through a bathroom door. After being hit in the shoulder, the kid survived at Cooper University Hospital.
The medical examiner declared the woman’s death a homicide, prosecutors said. Investigators also found that the couple had been fighting in the weeks before the incident, particularly over home refinancing around Christmas and relationship instability.
Caitlin Douma, Acevedo’s defense attorney, urged the court to release him due to his clean background and significant community links. She characterized him as a Philadelphia-based father of two, homeowner, and school bus driver. Douma claimed Acevedo cooperated with police, stayed at the site, and contacted 911.
The defense said Acevedo did not attempt to flee or commit more crimes and understood the risks of notifying authorities after the incident.
Prosecutors opposed release because Acevedo is a community threat and could obstruct justice or not appear in court. The charges’ seriousness and the likelihood of a life sentence were major worries.
Judge Benjamin Morgan found that the defense failed to overcome the legal presumption that a murder defendant should be imprisoned. The judge kept Acevedo in detention due to the evidence and potential penalty.
Acevedo has seven days to challenge detention. As judicial proceedings continue, a pre-indictment conference is scheduled for February 19.
Sources
New Jersey Superior Court
Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office
