A Folsom man who was shot at during an armed home-invasion is jailed after the investigation led to an alleged drug-manufacturing facility inside the victim's home.
Jose Rodriguez, who turned 33 on Tuesday, was ordered held on 11 counts, including possession of a so-called "ghost gun" and charges connected to large quantities of heroin and marijuana.
The alleged production facility was found as officers were investigating the home invasion, where two Camden brothers allegedly kicked in the door of Rodriguez's home, where he was with his three children.
"This is a victim," defense attorney Anthony Padovani argued during a detention hearing Wednesday. "This is not someone who went out and decided to commit a crime. He was placed in precarious position with home invaders."
One of those men shot the gun twice, according to information in the affidavits of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC. Rodriguez's weapon was discharged once.
Police were called to the Mays Landing Road home just before 11 p.m. May 2, the affidavits state.
They found 22-year-old Joseph Correa-Vazquez shot and Rodriguez in possession of a 9mm Glock he said belonged to the wounded man.
Rodriguez also had a 40-caliber handgun he said was his. That gun had no serial number and was not properly registered, according to the charges he now faces.
Evidence showed Rodriguez fired his gun once, the affidavit states.
Rodriguez said he was in his bedroom with his 4-year-old when he was confronted at gunpoint by the second suspect, who fled.
A description was put out, leading to the arrest of 21-year-old Christian Vazquez on Route 54 near the Atlantic City Expressway entrance, the affidavit states.
Vazquez is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on 11 counts, including first-degree theft, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and endangering the welfare of the children.
That also poses a danger to Rodriguez, his attorney argued.
"He’s a target in jail," Padovani said. "His life is in jeopardy staying in jail with the assailant who came after him."
The attorney said Rodriguez, who works in real estate, wanted to get out to help sell the home, where his wife has not returned with the children out of fear.
Vazquez's brother is still hospitalized from his injury in the shooting. Correa-Vazquez also faces 11 counts, but his charges were put on a summons, likely due to his hospitalization.
Vazquez's remains jailed pending his detention hearing set for Friday.
The brothers were not the only danger to Rodriguez's children, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Allison Eiselen argued at Rodriguez's hearing.
The large amount of drugs posed "a very big danger to all of his children," she said, which includes a 12-year-old and 8-month-old.
"These are substances that are so toxic that law enforcement's not even allowed to field test them because of the dangers posed by accidental exposure, even airborne exposure," she said.
The bedroom was rented by someone else, Padovani argued.
Eiselen also pointed to the gun that Rodriguez did admit was his. It had no serial number, making it a "ghost gun," because of the difficulty in tracking such a weapon.
"This is a gun designed to subvert law enforcement," she said.
Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Wilson found that Rodriguez does pose a threat to the community. He also found that he could be a flight risk, since a prior gun charge ties him to Florida.
He will remain jailed as his case goes through the courts.
