http://www.thehammontonnews.com/apps/pb ... 60311/1002

Article published Jul 26, 2006
Man, 21, charged in fatal fight with migrant


By BEN MERITT
Staff Writer
bmeritt@thehammontonnews.com

HAMMONTON -- A 21-year-old migrant worker faces murder charges after a 19-year-old migrant worker died after a fight at a farm Saturday night.

Marcelino Gomez Perez died from a stab wound to the abdomen. He was injured during a fight with Jesus Ramirez, 21, at the Bridge Avenue Farm, where both were employed as workers, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz.

The stab wound to Perez severed his renal artery causing extensive internal bleeding, according to Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Janet Neidosik.

The incident unfolded at 11:44 p.m. Saturday when Perez and Ramirez got into a fight outside the farm's bunkhouse. Two of Perez's cousins, Pedro Gomez Hernandez, 19, and Augustin Hernandez Gomez, 21, who also work at the farm, attempted to break up the fight and were injured. Hernandez suffered a slash wound to the face while Gomez was punched in the head. Both were treated by medical personnel at the farm, Blitz said.

Perez was pronounced dead at the scene around 12:07 a.m. Sunday by the Atlantic County Medical Examiner's Office, Blitz said.

Blitz declined to discuss what prompted the argument.

Ramirez fled the scene on foot prompting an intensive, all-night manhunt by Hammonton Police and other area police departments. Around 7 a.m., Ramirez was found hiding in a portable toilet on the farm. About an hour earlier, Blitz authorized filing the murder charge against Ramirez.

Ramirez was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Michael Donio, who set bail at $200,000. Ramirez was then placed in the Atlantic County Jail after failing to post bail.

The apparent homicide was the second in less than two weeks in Hammonton. On July 11, Martin Colon, 35, of Hammonton was beaten to death behind a White Horse Pike liquor store.

Hammonton Police are also investigating another incident at a farm labor camp. Hammonton Police Chief Frank Ingemi said Tuesday that Edwin Cruz, 22, of Hammonton has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the stabbing of Luis Morales, 46, of Hammonton at the Scordo's Farm Camp on Bairdmore Avenue. Morales was hospitalized at Kessler Memorial Hospital following the incident which took place at 2:41 p.m. July 20. Cruz is being held in the Atlantic County Jail in default of $25,000 cash bail.