By: Najla Alexander
Passaic County authorities announced that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Darwin Estrada-Cruz, 22, from Paterson, was arrested on April 1.
Officials stated in connection to the homicide that took place earlier that day in the area of Straight Street and 16th Avenue in Paterson.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes stated Darwin Estrada-Cruz is charged with first-degree Murder, which has a sentencing range of 30 years to life imprisonment.
According to officials, on April 1, 2024, at approximately 1:54 a.m., officers from the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Straight Street and 16th Avenue on a reported fight.
Upon their arrival, officials say, officers located the victim, Jose Estrada-Cruz, a 31-year-old male from Paterson, unresponsive inside a basement apartment.
Officials said the victim was subsequently pronounced deceased.
Authorities say during the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim’s cousin, Darwin Estrada-Cruz, caused the victim’s death.
Darwin Estrada-Cruz is scheduled to appear at Central Judicial Processing April 2, 2024 at 1:30 for his first Appearance.
The State will file a motion for pretrial detention, which will be heard by a Superior Court judge on a date and time that will be determined by the court, officials said.