Murder Suspect Sought In Bar Slaying Of Passaic Co. Man: Officials

HAWTHORNE, NJ — Five men have been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old Hawthorne man at a bar last month — and one of those men remains at large, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Ricky "Angel" Vargas (pictured above) of East Stroudsburg, PA, is considered "armed and dangerous," said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday.

Vargas and four other men have been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Richard Francheschi of Hawthorne on Feb. 4 at approximately 12:44 a.m., at JoJo's Bar & Grill in Garfield.

Prosecutors said the four other men charged are Jayson Rivera, 23, of East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Bryant Sanchez, 26, of Paterson, Erony Sanchez, 27, of Clifton, and Dante Moore, 23, of Passaic.

Prosecutors say that in the wee hours of Sunday, Feb. 4, Garfield Police responded to JoJo's and found Franceschi, 31, with stab wounds to his chest.

He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack and pronounced deceased at 1:29 a.m.

Prosecutors said that all five men "were responsible for physically assaulting and stabbing Franceschi numerous times with a knife. During the incident, Rivera was in possession of a firearm, and Vargas was in possession of a knife. Following the assault, the suspects fled the scene to evade law enforcement."

Officials said that on Thursday, Feb. 22, Bryant Sanchez, Erony Sanchez, and Moore were arrested with assistance from the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and the New Jersey State Police SWAT Team. Bryant Sanchez was arrested in Erony Sanchez and Moore were arrested in Passaic.

The three men were charged with first-degree murder and third-degree causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crime where the victim was physically helpless, said officials. Bryant Sanchez was also charged with aggravated assault and Moore was charged with theft. All three remain in Bergen County Jail.

Jayson Rivera was arrested in Garfield last Tuesday, March 12, on charges of first-degree murder, third-degree causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crime where the victim was physically helpless, and two second-degree firearm charges, officials said. He is in the Bergen County jail.

Vargas, who is still at large, "is considered armed and dangerous," prosecutors said. If anyone has any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the Bergen CountyProsecutor’s Office Tips Line at 201-226-5532.