2 Kids, Woman Identified In Fatal Domestic Violence Attack In Jersey City: Prosecutor

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Neighbors are mourning a mother and two children who were stabbed to death in a Jersey City apartment early Thursday morning.

Napoleon Romero-Anduray, 31, was charged in the deaths of Luisa Urbano, 31, and her children Juan Martin Urbano, 9, and Diana Ramirez, 5, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said.

The Jersey City police was notified shortly before 12:30 a.m. of a stabbing at 272 Hutton Ave., prosecutors said.

Police found the woman and her children in the apartment. Luisa Urbano was pronounced dead at 1:12 a.m., prosecutors said.

The children were taken to Jersey City Medical Center. Juan was pronounced dead at approximately 12:58 a.m. and Diana was pronounced dead at approximately 1:55 a.m., prosecutors said.

Romero-Anduray was found in the apartment with injuries and taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he is being treated for his wounds, prosecutors said.

He has also been charged with weapons offenses.

A relative of the suspect told the New York Post that Romero-Anduray was Urbano's ex-boyfriend.

Mayor Steven Fulop said earlier Thursday that the deaths were related to domestic violence (see earlier reporting below).

"The two kids ride scooters and bikes out front in the nice weather," wrote a neighbor on social media.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department are investigating, prosecutors said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

Earlier Reporting

“This was a terrible triple homicide that occurred last night related to domestic violence,” Fulop said on social media Thursday morning.

Fulop said the man in custody tried to stab himself.

“We have chaplains and social workers in the neighborhood to work with family and neighbors,” he said.

The building is on the western slope of Jersey City’s Heights neighborhood, west of Hoboken.

ABC had reported that police found a basement window broken when they arrived at the building.

In 2023, a total of 17 women and five children were killed in domestic violence incidents in New Jersey in the first 10 months of that year, including two women in Jersey City who were killed by their partners. Last year, there were no reported domestic violence deaths in that city. Nationally, at least 37 women have been killed in domestic violence incidents in America in the past four weeks.

How To Help, Or Get Help

Domestic violence advocates have said that the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the victim tries to leave.

Each New Jersey county has a domestic violence agency, and someone doesn't have to be ready to leave in order to get support and information. Also, people can also call to find out how to help a friend or loved one. Find out more about all of that here.

The national domestic violence hotline, reachable through phone, text, or chat, is 800-799-SAFE (7233), or you can text "Start" to 88788 to reach them by text.

The New Jersey hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The list of county agencies is here, and other information on how to protect oneself legally in New Jersey is here.

In an emergency, call 911.

Patch will update this breaking story when more details are available.