Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi announce that based upon an investigation by the Clifton Police Department, Mohammed Abuhaj was arrested on March 8, 2023, in relation to an investigation into an attempted murder that took place on March 8, 2023, in Clifton, NJ. Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj is charged with Attempted Murder, First Degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Fourth Degree.
On March 8, 2023, members of the Clifton Police Department responded to a residential address in Clifton, NJ on a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, they located a 31-year-old Clifton resident who sustained life threatening injuries as a result of being struck by a vehicle driven by Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj. The victim was immediately transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson for treatment. Based on the investigation Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj was identified as the actor who struck the victim with his vehicle causing him to sustain serious life-threatening injuries. The victim will remain unidentified pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj on First Degree Attempted Murder is 10- 20 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and 5 years of parole supervision upon release; on Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose it is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison; on Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, it is 18 months New Jersey State Prison.
The State has filed a motion for pretrial detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.