The brother of a man fatally shot in BJ’s parking lot in Jersey City last month has launched a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral costs.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, on Sunday, Feb. 28, at about 8:18 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to BJ’s parking lot on Marin Boulevard and Second Street on reports of a shooting.
Officers found Jersey City resident Christian Parra, 34, with a gunshot wound to the torso.
He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a 9 p.m.
“In an instant his life was cut short for no logical reasoning,” wrote his brother Eric Maldonado on the fundraising page. “The life of a good man was taken in a moment’s notice. We will never understand or comprehend this ill fated action or ever forget this godforsaken day.
“As I sit here and write this, the only words I can express are my pain and suffering. The pain of losing a loved one is something I think everyone can relate to, but the loss of my brother is devastating to me and my family.”
He said his brother was one of the nicest individuals anyone would ever want to meet, noting that he was a person who would motivate others toward personal growth.
‘A gem that shined brightly’
“He was a gem that shined so brightly in my life, in my world,” Moldonado said, noting his brother was a sneaker collector and a family man, two things he deeply cherished.
“There are no words to describe this tragic loss for us,” he said. We ask that you find it in your heart to help my family through these unknown and difficult times.”
Parra leaves behind three children: his daughters Lena and Ava, and his son Sir.
“They will grow up without a father, his wife without a husband, a mother, and father without their son and a brother without his best friend,” he said.
He noted the money would be given to Parra’s wife and children and help pay for funeral costs.
The funeral service was Sunday, March 7, at Greenville Memorial Home in Jersey City.
“We ask that you all remember Chris as I will for the delightful person he was, and the unforgettable memories he gave to us all,” he wrote.
While the cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department are investigating the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.
All information will be kept confidential.
To donate on the GoFundMe page which had raised more than $20,000 as of March 4, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/continuing-the-legacy-of-the-parra-family
For updates on this and other stories check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Marilyn Baer can be reached at Marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.
