Suspect charged with fatally stabbing man, kidnapping woman in Elizabeth

ELIZABETH, New Jersey (WABC) -- An Elizabeth man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal stabbing and kidnapping.

Saloman Rosendo Gomez-Serpas, 23, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and a second-degree weapons offense following the death of 30-year-old Mario Ortiz of Elizabeth, said action Union County Prosecutor Grace Park.

At about 4 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the Imperial Latino Lounge and found Ortiz, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say that Gomez-Serpas and Ortiz had been arguing in the Lounge's parking lot when the suspect stabbed Ortiz in the chest, then ordered a woman who was present into a nearby vehicle that immediately fled the scene.

Gomez-Serpas was located and arrested at about 2 p.m. Saturday at an apartment on Marshall Street in Elizabeth, where the woman present at the time of the homicide was also found unharmed.

Bail is set at $1 million for Gomez-Serpas, who is being held in the Union County Jail.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Homicide Task Force Sgt. Michael Manochio at 908-966-2287, Detective Brendan Sullivan at 908-966-0999, or Detective Danika Ramos at 908-965-3807.