Paterson sees violence weekend despite reduction in crime since state took over

There have been at least 11 homicides so far this year in Paterson. There were 22 in the same time period last year.

Eliecer Marte

Oct 3, 2023, 2:30 AM

Updated 437 days ago

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Paterson police released the inaugural CompStat Crime Data report to the public. It comes just hours after a deadly weekend in the city.
There have been at least 11 homicides so far this year in Paterson. There were 22 in the same time period last year. Attorney General Matthew Platin said last week that crime has been down in Paterson since his department took over six months ago.
Statistics show major crime is down in Paterson versus this time last year. It comes as the state took over the trouble police department.
While public access to this information is just part of the attorney general's plan, advocates say the root of this problem is mental health and spaces for kids and adolescents where they don't feel they have to be carrying a gun.
"We need additional resources. We need additional services for these young folks. Need alternatives to what the streets have to offer. If not, we are going to continue to see what we are seeing now," says Casey Melvin, director of field operations director at Paterson Healing Collective.
The organization, which provides support and intervention for survivors of violence, tells News 12 New Jersey that they receive numerous requests from young individuals asking for them to be taken out of Paterson because they just don't feel safe.
Three people were killed this weekend in gun violence in Paterson.
Officials say that around 6:32 a.m. Sunday, 34-year-old Eric Boone was fatally shot near the corner of Park Avenue and East 22nd Street.
Around 12:38 p.m. that same day, officials say 19-year-old Elijah Torres was killed near Highland Street. The incident also involved a 42-year-old woman who, according to police, is expected to recover.
Authorities then say that around 9:30 p.m., 22-year-old Mary Taylor was fatally shot in the head at the corner of Cianci and Van Houten streets. Law enforcement sources are calling it a drive-by shooting.
“Just because there might have been a reduction these months - but for the past couple of years, they have been consistently seen violence," says Liza Chowdhury, executive director of Paterson Healing Collective.
No arrests have been made in these weekend shootings. and the investigation remains ongoing.