Somerset Co. Fugitive Wanted For 5 Counts Of Attempted Murder Arrested In PA

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A Somerset County fugitive wanted for five counts of first-degree attempted murder was arrested in Pennsylvania on Sept. 30.

Cristobal Avila, 32, of Fairview Avenue, North Plainfield, had been named as the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Fugitive of the Month for September.

On Saturday, Sept. 30, Avila was arrested by the Easton, PA Police Department during a traffic stop, where he gave a false government identification to police officers, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset CountyProsecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo.

Once arrested, Easton Police Department contacted the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office due to the active fugitive warrants in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Avila had been wanted on charges for 5 counts of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of weapons, and second-degree certain person not to have weapons offense for an incident that happened on April 11, 2021, in North Plainfield.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Fugitive Unit will extradite Avila to New Jersey at the completion of his criminal charges in Pennsylvania and extradition proceedings.

Avila will remain lodged in Pennsylvania pending a sentencing hearing in that matter.

McDonald thanked members of the Easton, Pennsylvania Police Department for their help in this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to active fugitives is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Fugitive Unit at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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