Police Report of February 14, 1996 (Valentine’s Day)Shooting the Las Vegas Night Club formerly located on 5th Street in Union City
Dear Hudson County Prosecutor's Office,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
Police Report of February 14, 1996 (Valentine’s Day)Shooting the Las Vegas Night Club
I am writing to inquire whether your office may be able to locate and provide a copy of a police or investigative report related to a shooting incident that occurred in Union City, New Jersey.
The incident took place on February 14, 1996 (Valentine’s Day) inside a nightclub called Las Vegas, which was formerly located on 5th Street in Union City (the establishment no longer exists). I was a victim in this incident and sustained a gunshot injury to my mouth from a stray bullet while I was exiting the restroom. I was subsequently transported to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment.
To the best of my recollection, the shooting occurred during a dispute involving individuals believed to be affiliated with the MS-13
I initially contacted the Union City Police Department to request a copy of the report; however, I was informed that due to the age of the case, their department no longer maintains the records. I was advised to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and to submit my request via email.
I am requesting this report for immigration purposes, that is I need an official record that I was physically present in the country on the date that the incident.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Jose Roberto Lopez Rivera
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has received your OPRA-Common Law Right to Access records request via email, dated 2/17/2026, on 2/17/2026. It will be reviewed and a response will be provided as required by law by 2/26/2026
Keith M. Bendul
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office previously acknowledged receipt of your OPRA-Common Law Right to Access request with a deadline of 2/26/2026. A check of our file index indicates that the file is archived in storage and has to be retrieved. Therefore, the original deadline of 2/26/2026 is being extended to 3/19/2026. A deadline extension of 21 business days from the date of this notice is authorized by law.
Keith M. Bendul
Jose Roberto Lopez Rivera,
The HCPO is reviewing potentially responsive records to your response. Please be aware that you are using a platform which the public can view communications and records provide in response to your request. As such, the HCPO is asking you to respond to this email via a private communication.
You stated that you were a victim in the shooting and sustained a gunshot injury. Additionally, the Union City PD no longer maintains a copy of your record due to the age of the incident. Lastly you are requesting the official record for immigration purposes to prove that you were physically present in the country on that date.
Since you are seeking documents based on your individual standing under the Common Law Right to Access the HCPO need to verify your identification. Therefore please provide proof of identity (copy of current state driver’s license, a valid US Passport, or another valid Real ID) directly to HCPO in a private communication. An email address with a name does not suffice as email addresses can be spoofed using software on the Internet.
The HCPO will not release victim records containing person identifying information via a public platform due to the risk of identity theft.
If you have an attorney assisting you with your immigration matter, they can contact the HCPO and make a representation and a request on your behalf or issue a subpoena for records.
Until a clarification is received our review and response cannot be made.
Please respond before 3/18/2026 otherwise this request will be closed requiring you to submit a new request if you still want to receive records.
Upon receipt of the clarification, HCPO will then review and a response will be provided as required by law.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.
Thank you,
Keith M. Bendul
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
Civil Litigation Unit
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
Jose Roberto Lopez Rivera,
Attached please find the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office response to
your above request.
Please resubmit with clarifications as previously requested.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.
Thank you,
Keith M. Bendul
[1]cid:image001.png@01DABCC6.A01E2E90
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
Civil Litigation Unit
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
References
Visible links
Mr. Lopez,
I received your voicemail message. I tried to call you but there was no
answer. I tried to call you yesterday to inform you that we received your
March 27^th clarification via U.S. Mail on Thursday April 2 before the
holiday. A Response Letter was completed yesterday and responsive records
were mailed to you.
Keith M. Bendul
[1]cid:image001.png@01DABCC6.A01E2E90
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
Civil Litigation Unit
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
References
Visible links