Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatal knife attack at large New Jersey shopping center

A man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally stabbing a New York City resident in the parking lot of a major shopping center.

Augusto Perez, of North Bergen, was convicted Wednesday of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and hindering apprehension, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Earlier this year, a jury returned the two guilty verdicts after a six-week trial.

A 911 caller reported the knife attack in Bergen Town Center in Maywood on February 16, 2021 at 6:05 p.m. The huge shopping center is located on Route 4 and is home to 85 shops and restaurants.

Police found the victim, Omar Cruz, 64, of Albany, lying in a pool of blood in a parking lot behind the Ulta Beauty store, officials said.

According to previous police reports, Cruz had multiple stab wounds and a long trail of blood in the parking lot leading to his body.

At the scene, Cruz told police that Perez was the one who stabbed him. He was later. pronounced dead at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Perez was arrested at his home the day after the stabbing.