A Plainfield man accused of fatally stabbing his roommate following an argument shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve has been located and arrested.
Authorities said Darin Jose Cano Vasquez, 23, is charged with murder and related weapons offenses in connection with the death of 43-year-old Alejandros Cadena-Toapanta.
According to authorities, at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, Plainfield Police Division patrol units responding to the 600 block of West Front Street found Candena-Toapanta on the front lawn of a residence suffering from multiple injuries.
EMS transported Toapanta to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A fast-moving investigation involving the Union County Homicide Task Force, Plainfield Police Division, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit quickly resulted in Vasquez being identified as a suspect, and he was taken into custody without incident in Plainfield earlier today pending a first appearance in Superior Court later this week.
Anyone with information about this homicide still is being urged to contact Homicide Task Force Sgt. Johnny Ho at 908-403-8271.
Convictions on murder charges are commonly punishable by 30 years to life in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.