Somerset County Gang Member Linked to Murder in Union County: Prosecutor

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Somerset County alleged gang member of the Plainfield Locos Salvatrucha (PLS) clique of the MS-13 gang set has been charged in the fatal shooting of a Union County man, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced.

Jose Romero-Aguirre, a.k.a. “Coñejo,” 30, of North Plainfield is charged with murder and related weapons offenses for killing 22-year-old Andres Chach of Plainfield, six years ago.

Chach was found suffering from gunshot wounds outside of a nightclub outside a nightclub on the 300 block of West Front Street in Plainfield on Jan. 9, 2011, Park said.

Chach was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation involving the Union County Homicide Task Force and Plainfield Police Division, assisted by members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), resulted in Romero-Aguirre being identified as a suspect in the case.

Chach was formally charged and taken into custody earlier this month. State Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield set bail at $1.5 million.

Chach could face 30 years to life in state prison for the murder charge.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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