A father-of-two was brutally killed while walking home from work in New Jersey, shot in the back with a bow-and-arrow in a seemingly random attack captured on surveillance video.
A Walk Home Turns to Tragedy
Pablo Criollo, a 45-year-old from Harrison, was on his way home for dinner on Saturday evening when the unthinkable happened. At approximately 6.45pm in Kearny, a town just 11 miles west of New York City, a single arrow struck him. He was walking because he believed it would be quicker than waiting for a bus.
Security footage from a nearby business shows the harrowing moment. The sound of a bow releasing is heard, and Criollo is seen instantly reaching for the projectile embedded in his back. He then leans against a railing before collapsing onto the pavement.
Emergency services rushed the victim to University Hospital in Newark, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
Chaotic Standoff and Arrest
The alleged attacker, 44-year-old Oscar Feijoo, triggered a major police response hours after the shooting. He barricaded himself inside his residence, leading to a SWAT team deployment.
The situation escalated dramatically when Feijoo set the property on fire. He eventually emerged from the home to confront authorities while armed with knives, as detailed in the official press release. He was taken into custody shortly before 1pm on Sunday, ending the tense standoff.
Neighbours described a frightening scene. One witness, Cristina Pacheco, told reporters Feijoo looked "demonic," adding, "The way he was looking is like a devil person." The motive for the killing remains unclear, and investigators are yet to establish if the two men knew each other.
A Family Shattered and a Community in Mourning
Criollo's death has left his family devastated. He emigrated from Ecuador at 16 to build a new life and was the main provider for his wife, Paula Amez, and their six-year-old daughter, who had just started Kindergarten.
His stepdaughter, Azul Attanasio, set up a GoFundMe page to support the family. She wrote that they are "completely shattered by this act of violence," praising Criollo for providing for her as if she were his own daughter.
In a heartbreaking interview, Paula Amez revealed her young daughter keeps asking when her father will come home. The family's grief is compounded by the approaching holidays; Criollo had planned to buy a table for Christmas decorations the day after he was killed.
The investigation, led by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, is ongoing as the community grapples with the shocking and senseless nature of the crime.
