Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced the arrests of three men in connection with the fatal stabbing of Malik Denny, 34, of East Orange.
Jorge Santana Peralda, 22, of Irvington has been charged with Denny’s murder.
Wilber Duran Reyes, 20, of Newark has been charged with aggravated assault and the unlawful possession of a weapon (a baseball bat).
Domingo Vasquez, 52, of Newark has been charged with hindering apprehension.
On Thursday night, June 24, 2010 Denny and another man entered the Bus Stop Mini Market & Deli, located at 257 Central Avenue in East Orange. An altercation occurred inside the deli that spilled onto the sidewalk in front of the store. The altercation apparently arose over an ongoing dispute between the victim and the store owners over a sandwich.
When the dispute escalated, Denny was allegedly stabbed in the chest by Peralda. The man with Denny was struck by Reyes with a baseball bat. When East Orange police officers arrived on the scene they found Denny lying on the ground suffering from an apparent stab wound to his chest. He was rushed to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:52 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing.
These are mere accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
