NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ (Somerset County) – Authorities have arrested a third suspect in the death of a North Plainfield man in March, according to Somerset County Acting Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart.
On Tuesday, March 1, at around 9:36 p.m., North Plainfield police responded to the area of Grove Street and Prospect Place following a 9-1-1 call to the Somerset County Communications reporting shots fired with a victim, Taggart said.
Responding officers located Steve J. Camino, 26, of North Plainfield on Grove Street suffering from a gunshot wound, Taggart said.
Officer immediately initiated life saving measures and requested emergency medical personnel. Officers continued CPR until relieved by North Plainfield Fire Department and EMS personnel. Camino was then transported by EMS to an area trauma center where he was pronounced dead, Taggart said.
A post-mortem examination was subsequently performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office which ruled Camino’s death a homicide, Taggart said.
Then on Wednesday, April 13, as part of this investigation, Jose Branch, 26, of Plainfield was arrested in Raleigh, North Carolina without incident with the assistance of the Raleigh Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, Taggart said.
Branch was charged with first-degree first-degree conspiracy to commit murder. He 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, Taggart said.
On March 21, Kenneth Hill, 21 of Plainfield and Daniel Carrera-Cardona, 22, of Piscataway were arrested in relation to the death of Steve Camino, Taggart said.
Hill was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Carrera-Cardona was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder.
Hill and Carrera-Cardona both remain lodged in the Somerset County Jail.
Anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s 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). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
