PLAINFIELD, NJ – Michael Gonzalez, 27, of Plainfield, has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal stabbing that took place Sunday morning in Plainfield, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Plainfield Police Department Acting Director Captain David Guarino jointly announced Monday.Â
Gonzalez has been charged with first degree aggravated manslaughter, two related second degree weapons offenses, and fourth degree hindering an investigation.
Shortly before 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, members of the Plainfield Police Department responded to the 400 block of Liberty Street and found the victim, Osmond Franklin, 48, of Plainfield, at that location, having sustained serious injury, according to preliminary investigation.
Franklin was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was later pronounced dead.
A fast moving investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force, Plainfield Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit resulted in Gonzalez being identified as the suspect. Gonzalez was taken into custody without incident on Sunday evening and is lodged in the Union County Jail pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Union County Superior Court. Â
Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Sergeant Christopher Scuorzo at 908-472-0492, Detective Nora Berrio at 908-370-3016, or the Plainfield Police Department at 908-753-3360.
Convictions on criminal charges of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of 10 to 30 years in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.