2 Union County Men Arrested, 1 Wanted In N. Plainfield Stabbing

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Two Union County men were arrested and another remains at large in connection with the fatal stabbing of a North Plainfield man early Sunday morning.

Oscar Ivan Baquendo-Martinez, 23, West 4th Street, Plainfield; Patricio M. Piruch-Nekta, 25, Clinton Place, Plainfield; and Cesar A. Carcamo-Ortega, 25, East 2nd Street, Plainfield were all charged, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H.Robertson announced.

The fatal victim was identified as Nelson Noe Garcia-Lopez, 24, of North Plainfield.

Garcia-Lopez was walking alone on West Front Street at around 2:12 a.m. on Aug. 19 when he passed a group of about 15 people. Some of the people began to chase Garcia-Lopez as he ran down Grove Street into North Plainfield, according to the report.

An investigation found that Baquendo-Martinez, Piruch-Nekta and Carcamo-Ortega were involved in the assault and death of Garcia-Lopez, Robertson said.

A 911 call reported the fight around 2:18 a.m. and when police arrived they found Garcia-Lopez suffering from stab wounds. He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, Robertson said.

The post mortem examination found that Garcia-Lopez had been stabbed multiple times throughout his body and the manner of death was deemed a homicide, according to the report.

Garcia-Lopez was the intended target of the assault and authorities have not released a motive to maintain the integrity of the investigation, according to the report.

On Wednesday, Aug. 22, Baquendo-Martinez and Carcamo-Ortega were found in Plainfield and were arrested.

Baquendo-Martinez and Piruch-Netka were each charged with first-degree homicide and third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Carcamo-Ortega was charged with second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree rioting.

Baquendo-Martinez and Carcamo-Orteag were lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Piruch-Netka is still at large and has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a wanted person.

"The public is urged not to confront Piruch-Netka and to contact authorities if they know of his whereabouts," Robertson said.

Anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 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) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of Nelson Noe Garcia-Lopez.

(Images via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: From left: Oscar Ivan Baquendo-Martinez, 23, West 4th Street, Plainfield; Patricio M. Piruch-Nekta, 25, Clinton Place, Plainfield; and Cesar A. Carcamo-Ortega, 25, East 2nd Street, Plainfield)

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