A New Jersey teenager died after being struck by a stray bullet while reportedly carrying groceries into his grandmother’s home.
Around 6:30 pm Wednesday, Robert Cuadra, 18, was found lying on a sidewalk in Paterson from a gunshot wound, according to a joint statement released by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora.
Cuadra was transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center and was pronounced dead, PEOPLE reported.
According to CBS New York, signs honoring Cuadra have been placed on Godwin Avenue, where he was shot.
The GoFundMe page set up for the victim says he was taking in groceries for his grandmother when he was fatally struck.
Maria Delgado, a childhood friend of Cuadra’s mother, told reporters that Cuadra “was staying with his grandmother.”
Cuadra was an honors student at HARP Academy and took classes at Rutgers University through the district’s dual enrollment program, a statement by Paterson Public School.
The young man participated in various activities, including his active membership with the Interact Club and his participation in service projects such as Breast Cancer March of Dimes Walks and several other charity activities.
“He did not hang out. He was at school, work, and home to his mother and grandmother. Real good kid, real good kid,” Delgado told CBS New York.
Paterson Public Schools said that Cuadra had been accepted to Montclair State University and planned to attend this fall. He earned a full college scholarship as a freshman.
“Robert is remembered as a hard-working, polite, humble, and intelligent young man. He had a cooperative and sincere spirit. Robert was always willing to help others,” the district said. “He truly embraced HARP Academy’s motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ “
