A man found deceased in the roadway of Hurley Pond Road in Howell early Friday morning has been identified and his death ruled a homicide, the Prosecutor’s office said.

The Howell Township Police Department responded to a 911 call at about 3:46 a.m. reporting an unconscious male laying in Hurley Pond Road just east of Route 547. Upon arrival, a Hispanic male was located lying face down in the roadway. The man, identified as Domingo Merino Rafael, 33, of Lakewood, was unresponsive and obviously deceased.

MONOC personnel responded and the victim was pronounced deceased at 4:12 a.m. by doctors at Newark Beth Israel Hospital.

The incident was initially investigated as a fatal hit and run motor vehicle incident. However, upon the arrival of SCART investigators it was determined the incident was not related to a hit and run event.

Rafael was taken to the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office where a post-mortem examination was performed this morning by Medical Examiner Allison Mautone M.D. and the staff of the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death was ruled as a Homicide.

“The public can rest assured there is no connection between the Hurley Pond Road homicide and the incident that occurred later Friday night at Walnut Street. The Walnut Street event is being investigated by the state Office of the Attorney General pursuant to their directive on officer-involved shootings,” said Prosecutor Gramiccioni.