Authorities in Somerset County reported the arrest of Mr. Jose Branch, 23, of Plainfield in relation to the homicide death of Mr. Steve Camino, 26, Grove Street, North Plainfield, that occurred on March 1, in North Plainfield.
Acting Prosecutor Taggart stated that on Tuesday, March 1, at approximately 9:36 p.m., North Plainfield Police responded to the area of Grove Street and Prospect Place following a 9-1-1 call to Somerset County Communications reporting shots fired with a victim.
Responding Officers located a male gunshot victim on Grove Street and immediately initiated life-saving measures and requested emergency medical personnel to respond. North Plainfield Officers continued CPR until relieved by North Plainfield Fire Department and EMS personnel.
The shooting victim, identified as Steve J. Camino, was transported by EMS to an area trauma center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Detectives from the North Plainfield Police Department along with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit responded to conduct the investigation. Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. A post-mortem examination was subsequently performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled Camino’s death a homicide.
Acting Prosecutor Taggart stated that on Wednesday, April 13, as part of this investigation, Jose Branch was arrested in Raleigh, N.C., without incident with the assistance of the Raleigh Police Department and the United States Marshals Service on charges of 1st degree, Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
Defendant Branch was extradited from North Carolina to Somerset County on Tuesday, April 19, and is currently lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter.
Acting Prosecutor Taggart would like to thank members of the Raleigh Police Department and the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in this investigation.
Acting Prosecutor Taggart stated that on March 21, Kenneth Hill, 21, Plainfield and Daniel Carrera-Cardona, 22, of Princeton Road, Piscataway, were also arrested in relation to the death of Steve Camino which occurred on March 1, in North Plainfield.
Defendant Hill was charged with 1st-degree Murder, 2nddegree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Defendant Carrera-Cardona was charged with 1st-degree Murder and 1st-degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Defendant Hill and Defendant Carrera-Cardona both remain lodged in the Somerset County Jail.