44-Year-Old Plainfield Man Arrested In Pennsylvania In Connection With The Murder Of A Man At Train Station

Monday, May 13, 2024, 4:00 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PLAINFIELD, NJ.- Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel reported, a 44-year-old Plainfield, New Jersey man wanted in connection with last summer’s stabbing death of a 45-year-old at the Plainfield Train Station has been apprehended in Pennsylvania on Friday, May 10, 2024.

     According to authorities, on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at just around 2:00 p.m., members of the Plainfield Police Department and NJ Transit Police Officers responded to the 4th Street side of the Plainfield Train Station on a report of a man injured. Upon arrival, Police Officers found Juquin Smith, 45, of Plainfield suffering from an apparent life-threatening stab wound.

     Mr. Smith was immediately transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injury and was pronounced deceased a short time later. 

     A swift-moving investigation by Detectives of the Union County Homicide Task Force, and the Plainfield Police Department with assistance from the NJ Transit Police was able to identify Aswad J. Spruiel, 44, of Plainfield, New Jersey as the individual who fatally stabbed Mr. Smith. 

     Following the investigation, Mr. Spruiel was formally charged with first-degree Murder; third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

     Before being taken into custody Spuriel fled the area and remained at large until Friday, May 10, 2024, when members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force located Spuriel in Pennsylvania and arrested him. Spuriel is currently being detained in the Northumberland County Prison pending extradition back to New Jersey to face charges.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”