Motasem Ramadan
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi announce that on December 31, 2022, at approximately 7:30 p.m., members of the Clifton Police Department responded to the area of 25 Van Cleve Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey, on a report of male who was bleeding in a residence. When officers arrived, they found Waleed Ramadan, a 22-year-old Clifton male, lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds to his neck and face. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Following an investigation conducted by Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Investigations Unit and Clifton Police Department, it was revealed that the victim’s cousin, Motasem Ramadan, 25 years old of Clifton, New Jersey, stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife. Motasem Ramadan was subsequently arrested after a brief struggle with police officers. He is charged with first-degree murder; fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon; third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; third-degree resisting arrest; and third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The crime of murder carries a sentencing range of 30 years up to life imprisonment. The crimes of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The crime of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon carries a maximum sentence of eighteen-months in prison.
The State will seek pretrial detention of this defendant that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.