Crime & Safety
Man Charged With Murder In Union County Shooting: Prosecutor
A 20-year-old Union County man was arrested in connection with a shooting that took place in Plainfield, prosecutors said.
UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Plainfield man was arrested on Monday evening in connection with a shooting that took place on Sept. 17, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James T. Abney announced Thursday.
Michael Cruz, 20, was charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection with the shooting of David Michael Buck of Somerset, prosecutors said.
Plainfield Police officers rushed to the 700 block of Kensington Avenue in Plainfield on Sept. 17 at around 6:38 p.m. after reports of gunshots in the area, according to prosecutors.
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Upon arrival, police said they found Buck who was suffering from gunshot wounds. Buck was then rushed to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead, prosecutors said.
Read more: 1 Dead In Union County Shooting: Prosecutor
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Cruz was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia on Monday.
Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force coordinated with USMS/Task Force (Philadelphia and Newark Region), Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Union County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Team, to execute this arrest.
Cruz was then sent to the Philadelphia Police Department where he is awaiting extradition proceedings to return him to New Jersey.
“We appreciate the hard work and collaboration with our local and federal law enforcement agencies who assisted our office in locating and apprehending the suspect,” Prosecutor Daniel said. “We hope that this arrest can bring some small measure of comfort to all those grieving Mr. Buck.”
Anyone with information should contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Sergeant Chris Scuorzo at 908-472-0492, Detective Ryan Kirsh at 908-347-1420 or the Plainfield Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau at 908-753- 3131.
Prosecutors said convictions on crimes of this nature are punishable by terms of up to life in state prison.
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