Two suspects arrested in murder of deli owner
Co-owner of Mezzaluna Deli held in death of Vincent Russo
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
Two people have been arrested in the murder of the co-owner of Mezzaluna Deli on Route 130 in North Brunswick, including one of the man's business partners.

On Dec. 16, family members of Vincent Russo, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., discovered him shot to death at the deli at approximately 6:30 a.m., according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

On Dec. 18, Raymond Troxell, 49, of Kendall Park, and Frank Marsh, 44, of Lower Macungie, Pa., were arrested following a joint investigation of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the North Brunswick PoliceDepartment. Both men were charged with the murder of Russo. Marsh was also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

"Mr. Marsh was the shooter," Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Julie Davidson said.

Judge Barbara C. Stolte set bail at $2.5 million each. As of press time, an arraignment was scheduled for Monday.

Russo and Troxell were co-owners of the deli, located at 1892 Route 130 north in the Maple Meade Shopping Center, since this past summer.

Davidson said Troxell and Marsh were "friends" but that she "could not discuss" the motive of the shooting. She said that she cannot release information about the type of weapon that was used.

Russo had been last seen alive at the deli at approximately 6:45 p.m. the night before his death, according to the press release. Davidson said that "through the investigation, I can say it [happened] Monday the 15th," but she could not release the exact time of the shooting.

An autopsy performed by Assistant Middlesex County Medical Examiner Frederick DiCarlo showed the cause of death was a gunshotwound and was determined to be a homicide. Davidson said investigators are "not releasing information" about where Russo was shot.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Investigator Paul Miller of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4466 or Detective John Ambrosino of the North Brunswick Police Department at 732-545-3200.