Hackensack man arrested in connection with Paterson murder
By Jonathan Greene
Published: March 13, 2024
A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a homicide that occurred last October in Paterson. The incident, which resulted in the death of a Paterson woman, took place in the vicinity of Van Houten and Cianci streets, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Christopher Thomas, 26, of Hackensack, faces multiple charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, both in the first degree. Additional charges against Thomas include unlawful possession of a handgun, with counts in both the first and second degrees, and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to possess weapons, both second-degree offenses.
On October 1, 2023, around 9:22 p.m., a police officer reported hearing several gunshots in the area of Van Houten and Cianci streets. Responding units discovered 22-year-old Mary Taylor of Paterson, who had suffered a gunshot wound. Taylor was quickly transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The investigation into the shooting led detectives to identify Thomas as one of the individuals involved.
The state has announced plans to file a motion for pretrial detention for Thomas, which will be reviewed by a Superior Court judge at a later date. The charges of murder he faces carry a significant potential sentence, ranging from a minimum of 30 years to life imprisonment.