Paterson NJ detectives arrested a suspect wanted for a murder committed four (4) months ago.
While investigating a recent shooting, detectives discovered that 22-year-old Christian Paterson, the suspect in the earlier shooting, was standing on a nearby street corner.
Detectives from the Paterson Police Cease-Fire Unit and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office were in the area of Park Avenue and East 23rd Street when they took notice of Mr. Paterson, whom they had been seeking in a prior investigation.
According to a release issued by the Cease-Fire Unit, Mr. Paterson is accused of robbing and shooting a man three (3) times in the head on the steps of a Van Houten Street residence. The victim was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. The victim was able to say that he had been robbed of cash and a cell phone.
Paterson detectives eventually identified Mr. Paterson as the suspect in the shooting. Mr. Paterson was charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Authorities had been seeking Mr. Paterson for months before finally finding him.
If convicted of attempted murder, Mr. Paterson could be sentenced to up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Additionally, because the No Early Release Act (NERA) applies to attempted murder convictions, Mr. Paterson would be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Mr. Paterson is being held at the Passaic County Jail on $1.5 million bail.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Paterson Police Find Suspected Gunman in May Crime While Investigating New Shooting.”
