New Brunswick man fatally stabbed in July 4 dispute

NEW BRUNSWICK – A 32-year-old city man has been accused of the fatal stabbing of another city man during a dispute at a restaurant over the weekend.

Edgar Martinez was charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the death of Jovanni Garcia-Elvira, 20, on July 4, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.

Carey said the stabbing occurred at El Costeno, a Mexican restaurant on Suydam Street.

Garcia-Elvira was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital here where he was pronounced dead around 5 a.m. July 4. An autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Garcia-Elvira died from multiple stab wounds.

According to police, the two men were involved in a dispute that ended when Garcia-Elvira was stabbed multiple times around 4 a.m.

Carey said Martinez was apprehended while walking on Joyce Kilmer Avenue shortly after the incident, following an investigation by New Brunswick Detective Thierry Lemmerling and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Gregory Morris.

Martinez is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $2 million bail, Carey said.

Carey said the investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call New Brunswick Detective Thierry Lemmerling at 732-745-5200 or Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Gregory Morris 732-745-4054.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com