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Joshua Lopez, 23, of Ewing Township was charged with first-degree murder and several weapons offenses in last Tuesday's shooting death of Katherine "Kat" Montenegro in Hamilton Township, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.
Authorities did not say what Lopez’s motive was for allegedly shooting Montenegro in a 7-Eleven parking lot,
"They did know each other,," said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for Onofri, calling the pair "acquaintances" without elaborating.
On May 18 at about 1:50 a.m., Hamilton police responded to a shooting in progress at the 7-Eleven on Lalor Street, Onofri said.
Police officers found Montenegro lying in the parking lot near the storefront curb with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, the prosecutor said.
Montenegro was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later, Onofri said.
Authorities reviewed surveillance video and witnesses were interviewed, Onofri said, leading to the arrest of Lopez on Monday evening..
Lopez also was charged with second-degree "certain persons not to possess a firearm," because he is a convicted felon, authorities said.
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