Investigators are seeking assistance from the public in identifying a suspect believed to have been involved in a fatal shooting that occurred in Plainfield one year ago today, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Monday.
The date was November 24, 2013 when Plainfield police units responding to a report of shots being fired rushed to the 700 block of East Sixth Street in the city to discover the body of 28-year-old Jose Luis Disla Cordero in his apartment.
An intensive joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Plainfield Police Division resulted in the identification of two suspects: Plainfield residents Angel Rosario Mejia, 23, and Rodney Rosario, 29. Charges against the pair were filed in December 2013, and one month later they were arrested with the assistance of FBI agents assigned to the bureau’s Newark Division (both defendants remain in custody on $2 million bail apiece and are awaiting trial).
But investigators believe that the unidentified third suspect in the case also played a role in Cordero’s death. In an effort to secure an identification, the Prosecutor’s Office is releasing to the media and the public a brief surveillance video clip that shows an unobstructed view of the suspect’s face.
A reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in connection with Mr. Disla-Cordero’s death also is still being offered by the Union County Crime Stoppers; tips can be given anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477), via text message by texting “UCTIP” and a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or online at www.uctip.org.
Anyone with information about the case also is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Janet Lopez at 908-347-8491 or Detective Johnny Ho at 908-403-8271.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.