A 46-year-old man from Plainfield died after being assaulted late Thursday night at an upscale wedding and catering venue in Passaic County, authorities in the United States said.
According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the incident occurred around 11.56 pm at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park. The victim was struck in the face during an altercation. His identity has not yet been released.
Police alerted after man found unresponsive
The Woodland Park Police Department responded to a call reporting an unresponsive man at the venue, located in the 700 block of Rifle Camp Road. Officers arriving at the scene found the victim in critical condition.
Emergency responders rushed the man to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, where doctors later pronounced him dead.
Suspect fled the scene
Authorities said the alleged attacker fled the location in a vehicle immediately after the incident. A joint statement issued by Prosecutor Valdes and Luigi DeLuca confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify and locate the suspect.
Police have not yet disclosed what led to the assault or whether the victim and the suspect knew each other. Officials also did not clarify whether the incident took place during a private event at the venue.
Investigation ongoing
Detectives are reviewing evidence from the scene and are expected to examine CCTV footage from the area to trace the suspect’s movements. Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist the investigation.
The case has drawn attention in the region, particularly because it occurred at a well-known and frequently used event venue. Further details, including possible charges and the cause of death, are expected after completion of the post-mortem examination and ongoing inquiries.