HCPO composite photo

JERSEY CITY – The latest information out of Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio's office is the above composite of the suspected shooter of Tuesday's murder in Kearny of Rachel Jewelry store owner Xavier Egoavil. The poster also includes a surveillance camera still photo of the getaway car and a more detailed description of the armed robbers/murderers, according to the homicide unit reports. Click on the poster for a larger image.

Rachel Jewelers robbed,owner's son killed

Above photo: Honorio, left, Xavier and Raquel Egoavil

KEARNY – As I was heading up to Kearny Avenue at 9:10 a.m. this morning three police units flashed by me on their way to a report of a robbery on Kearny Avenue near Town Hall – shots fired. The information I have so far, which is somewhat sketchy, is that the while Honorio Egoavil, the owner of Rachel Jewelers at 397 Kearny Ave. was getting coffee at Arcos Pastry at 401 Kearny Ave., as was his usual morning ritual, his son Xavier was shot and killed by robbers. There were other family members in the store at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Egoavil were given medical attention by Kearny EMS.
The pair may have been casing the jewelry shops from the seats of Arcos for the last two days. The information was gotten piece meal since residents and store owners were in shock that such a horrific crime could happen in broad daylight.
Kearny and Hudson County prosecutors office detectives viewed surveillance footage sometime during the morning and both alleged suspects appeared to be in their 30's, according to Arcos owner Olivia Souza.
It is a crime that is breaking many hearts since the victim was well-known and loved by family, friends and neighbors. One woman said Xavier was able to bring his family with papers to Kearny – his wife and two young children – from Peru just four months ago. Souza and Mr. Egoavil were the first to find the victim after a woman at the outside cafe heard shots and saw two young men running from the scene of the crime, witnesses said today.

"There was so much blood," Souza said.
Hudson County Sheriff's Office homicide Det. Sgts. John Appleyard and Daniel Diaz were on the scene by 10 a.m., along with the count medical examiner. Kearny police secured the perimeter, went from door to door gathering information and search the surrounding area for evidence. Officer John Grimm was the first to respond to the scene just after 9 a.m. and Kearny detectives within minutes. Chief John Dowie was also at the scene. Prosecutor Edward DeFazio could not comment as of this time.
A large crowd gathered as the morning wore on to view such a traumatic incident.
See next week's Observer for the complete story.