Ernier Pacheco | Homicide Watch Trenton

Trenton man awaiting trial for 2014 murder charged in connection with previous baseball bat attack

Penny Ray — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:43:22 -0500

Ernier Pacheco

A city man who was indicted earlier this year in connection with the 2014 stabbing death of Alberto Saquic, now faces aggravated assault charges stemming from an incident that happened three months before Saquic’s murder.

Ernier Pacheco, 19, is currently in jail awaiting trial for the murder of 21-year-old Saquic, which Pacheco claims was self-defense. But over the past 16 months, police developed enough probable cause to charge Pacheco in connection with an assault that sent one man to the hospital with a head injury caused by a baseball bat.

Around 11:45 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2014, four people were walking in the 200 block of Cummings Avenue when two suspects approached them from behind. Police say two of the four people in the initial group were slightly ahead of the others, when the two in the rear were assaulted.

Police say one victim was hit in the head with a baseball bat, and the other victim was punched in the head with a closed fist. The two people walking ahead of the others then turned to help the victims, police say, and the suspects fled. But while the suspects were running, one of the victims managed to grab a suspect’s jacket.

Later, on Nov. 30, 2014, Saquic was stabbed in the chest while outside of Chapala II Mexican Grill and Bar in the Chambersburg section of the city; he later died at the hospital. Pacheco was arrested that same day and charged with murder and weapons offenses in connection with Saquic’s death, and he remains in jail on $750,000 bail. Prosecutors say the incident was captured by surveillance video, and that Saquic was laying on a ramp outside the bar being restrained by bouncers when Pacheco lunged at him with a knife, stabbing him once in the chest.

Police continued to investigate the August 2014 assault, and over the past 16 months investigators gathered enough evidence to charge Pacheco with aggravated assault and weapons offenses in connection with the baseball bat attack.

Bail for Pacheco’s new charges was set at $100,000 cash.

Trenton man indicted in connection with stabbing death of Alberto Saquic

Penny Ray — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:26:15 -0400

Ernier Pacheco

A city man has been indicted in connection with the 2014 stabbing death of Alberto Saquic, who was killed outside a city bar.

Ernier Pacheco, 19, is charged with murder, related weapons offenses and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Saquic’s death.

Saquic, 21, was stabbed outside of Chapala II Mexican Grill and Bar around 1:15 a.m. on November 30, 2014. When police arrived at the bar that morning, they found Saquic lying on the ground suffering from a stab wound to his chest. Saquic later died at the hospital.

Pacheco was arrested the same day as the stabbing, and at a bail hearing last year prosecutors said the incident was captured by surveillance video.

The exterior of the Chapala II Mexican Bar and Grill is seen on Sunday Nov. 30. (Scott Ketterer -- The Trentonian)

The video reportedly shows Pacheco striking Saquic, who had been escorted out of the bar by bouncers after he became unruly.

While Saquic was laying on a ramp outside the bar being restrained by bouncers, Pacheco lunged at him with a knife, striking him once in the chest, prosecutors said.

At that bail hearing, Pacheco’s attorney said her client claims the stabbing was self-defense.

Pacheco remains in jail on $750,000 bail.

Trenton man claims self defense in killing outside city bar

Isaac Avilucea — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:03:18 -0500

The man accused in the stabbing death of a 21-year-old man outside of a city bar is claiming he acted in self-defense, his attorney said at a bail hearing Friday.

Ernier Pacheco, 18, of Trenton, is accused of stabbing Alberto Saquic once in the chest outside Chapala II bar on Morris Avenue.

Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Korngut said prosecutors have not determined a motive for the killing, which took place in the early-morning hours of Nov. 30.

Korngut said the gruesome encounter was captured on surveillance. In it, Pacheco is reportedly seen striking Saquic not long after he had been escorted out of the bar by bouncers after he became unruly. While Saquic was laying on a ramp outside the bar being restrained by bouncers, Pacheco lunged at him with a knife, striking him once in the chest, Korngut said.

Seconds later, the victim gets off the ground and immediately slumps over, Korngut said. The victim was taken to a hospital where he died a short time later.

Police said they identified Pacheco as a suspect, in part because he showed particular interest in the crime and milled about the crime scene following the murder, Korngut said.

Pacheco matched a physical description given by witnesses, Korngut said. Police haven’t recovered the knife used in the attack.

Pacheco, who lived across the street from the bar, was also previously banished from the establishment for starting trouble with patrons, prosecutors said.

Pacheco’s attorney, Kathleen Redpath-Perez, said her client claims the victim was the aggressor and armed at the time of the attack. Korngut disputed that after the proceeding, saying the victim was unarmed and prosecutors are unaware of any prior history between the men, Prosecutors said

Pacheco, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, required an interpreter at his bail hearing, during which Judge Robert Billmeier maintained his bond at $750,000.

City man dead after stabbing outside of Chambersburg bar

Scott Ketterer — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 14:40:18 -0500

The exterior of the Chapala II Bar and Grill is seen on Sunday Nov. 30. Early on Sunday the sidewalk was the scene of a homicide, police say. (Scott Ketterer -- The Trentonian)

A city man is dead and another is facing murder and weapons charges, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said.

According to spokeswoman for the Prosecutor's office, Casey DeBlasio, on Sunday morning police received a call for people fighting at Chapala II bar and grill on Morris Avenue around 1:13 a.m. When police arrived, DeBlasio said, they found the victim lying on the ground outside of the bar on Anderson Street in the city's Chambersburg section.

The victim, Alberto Saquic, whom authorities believe is 21, died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center after he'd been stabbed in the chest. Authorities said the fight did not occur in the bar, but outside on the sidewalk. It's not known exactly what sparked the confrontation, but police have arrested Ernier Pacheco, 18, in connection with the death.