Hector Calderon JACKSON — Just 13 hours after an investigation into the shooting death of Jackson resident Peyman Sanandaji began, officials announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the killing.
Authorities said Hector Calderon, 47, was arrested without incident at his home on South Street, Freehold Borough, just before noon on April 10, following a joint investigation by the Jackson Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Calderon was charged with murder, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, after failing to post bail, which was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option.
Members of the Freehold Borough Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit assisted in the arrest.
Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Al Della Fave said the shooting took place just before 11 p.m. April 9 at the Casanova Ristorante in Romeo’s Plaza, South New Prospect and Bennetts Mills roads, Jackson.
Although officials said the Casanova Ristorante, which is connected to Romeo’s Pizza, has been closed for some time, Della Fave said he could not comment on why both men were at the shuttered restaurant at the time of the shooting.
The initial report that was called in to police indicated that Sanandaji was an employee, although Della Fave did not comment on where the victim was employed.
By the time police arrived at the scene, Sanandaji, 34, was found dead inside the restaurant with multiple gunshot wounds.
The area was secured by Jackson police officers. Representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the Ocean County Medical Examiner also responded to the scene.
Authorities said the investigation revealed that Calderon allegedly shot Sanandaji during an altercation, although the reason behind the altercation has yet to be determined.