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Bergen resident charged after police say shooting was self-inflicted

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Two young adults are accused of making false statements to police after law enforcement concluded the Garfield shooting was self-inflicted, according to the Bergen County District Attorney's Office.

Damien Flores, 18, of Garfield, and Samantha Delacruz, 22, of Elmwood Park, are accused of falsely reporting a shooting incident in Garfield, officials said.

On July 26, Flores was identified by police as a gunshot victim who was being treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson.

Delacruz drove Flores to St. Joseph's with a gunshot wound to the leg, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The injury Flores suffered was not life-threatening.

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According to prosecutors, Flores told police he was shot in a drive-by shooting near Belmont Hill Park in Garfield.

An investigation by Garfield Police and the Bergen County District Attorney's Office concluded that Flores allegedly inflicted the gunshot wound on himself and that it was an accident.

According to authorities, Delacruz gave conflicting statements to law enforcement about the events of the night of the shooting.

Flores was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree making a false report to authorities. Delacruz was charged with third-degree obstruction and fourth-degree making a false report to authorities.

Delacruz was released and Flores was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first court date.

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