Murder Charges Dismissed Against Two Men in Green Bay
Prosecutors dropped homicide charges against Christian Rivera-Pica and Joel Pagan-Garcia on Monday.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Crime — General
Prosecutors dismissed first-degree intentional homicide charges against Christian Rivera-Pica and Joel Pagan-Garcia. The decision came immediately before the scheduled trial for Rivera-Pica was set to begin.
Why it matters
The dismissal of these charges effectively halts the legal proceedings against both men regarding the 2023 shooting of Carlos Otero-Aviles. However, the state has reserved the right to refile the charges in the future.
Prosecutors dismissed all charges without prejudice, allowing for potential refiling. The legal action occurred in Green Bay court as the trial for Christian Rivera-Pica was scheduled to commence.
The players
Christian Rivera-Pica
He was a suspect charged as a party to first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Carlos Otero-Aviles.
Joel Pagan-Garcia
He was a co-defendant charged as a party to first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Carlos Otero-Aviles.
Carlos Otero-Aviles
He was the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on Western Avenue in November 2023.
The details
The charges stemmed from a November 3, 2023, shooting at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Western Avenue that resulted in the death of Carlos Otero-Aviles from an abdominal gunshot wound. While Otero-Aviles told police before his death that Rivera-Pica was the shooter and phone GPS data linked him to the scene, both Rivera-Pica and Pagan-Garcia denied involvement.
Timeline
November 3, 2023: The shooting occurred in a Western Avenue apartment parking lot.
September 21, 2026: Prosecutors dismissed the murder charges against the suspects.
Legal Context
This case utilizes the procedural mechanism of dismissal without prejudice, which preserves the state's ability to resume prosecution later. Such legal moves reflect common practices in complex criminal cases where trial readiness may fluctuate.
The dismissal means the suspects are currently not facing active prosecution, though the potential for future legal action remains. Residents in the Western Avenue area should remain aware that the investigation into the 2023 incident is legally ongoing.
The takeaway
Legal dismissals without prejudice highlight the fluidity of criminal cases as they approach the trial phase. While the immediate courtroom action has concluded, the state's decision to leave the door open for refiling indicates that the investigation remains a point of interest for authorities.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings in the city, visit the Crime — General section.
