Passaic County said Mr. Jose Edgar Martinez-Garcia, 33, and Francisco Martinez-Garcia, 27, both from Paterson, were arrested in relation to the double homicide which occurred on July 5, 2021 at 455 Totowa Avenue in the City of Paterson.
The Martinez-Garcia brothers are charged with two counts of Murder, first degree; Attempted Murder, first degree; Conspiracy to Commit Murder, first degree; Possession of a Knife for an Unlawful Purpose, third degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Knife, fourth degree.
According to Passaic County authorities, on Monday, July 5, 2021, at approximately 4:19 a.m., members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to 455 Totowa Avenue in response to a report of a stabbing.
Upon their arrival, officers located Jaime Hernandez, 44, and Johnny Jimenez, 36, both lying in the parking lot of 430 Totowa Avenue with apparent stab wounds.
Paterson Fire Department personnel made attempts to revive the victims without success. Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Jimenez succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Officials said the investigation revealed that the Martinez-Garcia brothers were responsible for the homicides of Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Jimenez, as well as the stabbing of a third victim who survived the assault.
As a result of the investigation, complaint-warrants were issued for the two brothers charging them with the above enumerated crimes.
Attempts were made to capture the two brothers, but they fled the jurisdiction. Further investigation revealed that the Martinez-Garcia brothers were in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area.
According to officials, on Friday, July 9, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was alerted to this information and deployed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they located both brothers and took them into custody without incident.
Both defendants waived extradition and are currently in custody at the Passaic County Jail, and the State has filed motions for pre-trial detention that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.