A brother-in-law of taxi driver Isidro Leonardo looks at a photo of his accused murderer Sunday.A member of the Bloods' "SexMoneyMurder" set is in police custody, accused of felony murder and weapons charges in the Sept. 28 death of taxi driver Isidro Leonardo.
Wallace Parrish, 19, of 981 West Fourth Street, was arrested Saturday afternoon in Plainfield, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said at a Sunday morning press conference outside the Plainfield Police Division. Romankow said another taxi driver sensed danger and took off when Parrish attempted to enter his cab a short time before Leonardo picked him up. Romankow described the fatal wound as a "contact shot to the back of the head" of the victim and called it "one of those cowardly acts that make no sense."
Parrish is being held on $750,000 bail. His arrest was credited to both Plainfield police and 10 members of Romankow's office who collaborated as a Homicide Task Force, an operation described by spokesman John Holl as having the ability to pull law enforcement personnel from around the county for an investigation. Assistant Union County Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor was in charge of the investigation that resulted in Saturday's arrest. The crime was an attempted theft, Romankow said, and not a bias crime.
Nelson Santana and Jorge Mateo, both brothers-in-law of the victim, attended the conference at the new Police Memorial. Santana called the death a "big loss" to the family and Mateo called their feelings indescribable. A wake is scheduled for 5 p.m. this afternoon at the Salvation Army on Watchung Avenue and the men said drivers from the city's many taxi companies are expected to attend with their cabs.
--Bernice Paglia
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