Wave of violence hits Paterson during July 4th weekend

The Fourth of July celebration was clouded in Paterson, New Jersey by a report from authorities recording six shootings and two stabbings, including one that was fatal.

The incidents followed a fatal shooting Saturday night on Franklin Street in New Jersey’s third largest city, when Juan Garcia, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to city officials.

Prosecutors said police attempted to administer aid to Garcia, though he was pronounced dead as paramedics arrived.

Paterson police officers are also investigating a double stabbing that left one victim dead and a second facing life-threatening injuries around 4:25 a.m. Monday near 445 Totowa Ave., according to a report by RLS Media.

Near 2:40 a.m. Monday, police responded to a report that a 20-year-old male Paterson resident arrived at Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center with a non-fatal gunshot wound, as did a 22-year-old male Paterson resident, the Passaic County prosecutor said in a statement.

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Based on the initial investigation into that incident, the victims were in the area of Park Avenue and Madison Avenue when an unknown individual started shooting at them, the prosecutor said.

Then, at about 5:45 a.m. Monday, police responded to the area of East 23rd Street and William Street on a report of shots fired, but no victims were found at the scene, authorities said.

Unknown gunman

But the violent events did not stop there, later, Paterson police were informed that three Paterson residents arrived at St. Joseph’s with non-fatal gunshot wounds, a 31-year-old male, a 25-year-old female and a 43-year-old male, the prosecutor said. The investigation found the victims were in the area of East 23rd Street and 12th Avenue when an unknown gunman began shooting, police and prosecutors said.

On Sunday at 3:34 p.m., a 20-year-old Paterson man also went to Saint Joseph’s with a non-fatal gunshot wound, according to a report by TAPInto. The initial investigation found the victim was walking in the area of 20th Avenue and Gray Street when someone fired shots from a moving vehicle, the report said.