Memphis Morales
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In- Charge Isa Abbassi announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department Shooting Investigation Unit, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, The New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit, and the Unted States Marshal’s Service New York/ New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, New Jersey State Police K-9 North Unit, Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Passaic County Swat, Memphis Morales 21 years-old, from Paterson New Jersey, was arrested on January 12, 2024, in connection to the shooting that took place on January 11, 2024, in the area of Arch Street and Garfield Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey. Morales is charged with Attempted Murder, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Certain Person not to Possess a Weapon, second degree, Burglary, second degree, and Terroristic Threats, third degree.
At approximately 4:18 p.m. on January 11, 2024, members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Arch Street and Garfield Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey on a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, members of the Paterson Police Department located the victim, a 28-year-old male Paterson resident. The victim was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey seeking treatment for non-fatal gunshot wound. The subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Morales was responsible for the shooting. Morales was arrested on January 12, 2024, by members of law enforcement without incident.
Morales was also charged in connection to the September 17, 2023, shooting in the area of Market Street and Pennington Street, in Paterson. At approximately 2:23 a.m. on September 17, 2023, members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Market Street and Pennington Street in Paterson, New Jersey on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival members of the Paterson Police Department located a 34-year-old male Secaucus, New Jersey resident who sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound and was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey for treatment. Or the September shooting, Morles was charged with Attempted Murder, first degree, Robbery, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Certain Person not to Possess a Weapon, second degree.
Additionally, Morales was charged in connection to an incident of Domestic Violence from November 5, 2023, in Paterson. Morales was charged with Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Terroristic Threats, third degree, and Receiving Stolen Property, third degree, Possession of Hallow Point Bullets, fourth degree, and Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, fourth degree.
The crimes of Attempted Murder, first degree, and Robbery, first degree, both have a sentencing range of 10 to 20 years in prison with a requirement to serve 85% of the sentence before parole eligibility. Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree, both have a sentencing range of 5 to 10 years in prison with 42 months to be served before parole eligibility. The crime of Certain Person not to Possess a Weapon has a sentencing range of 5 to 10 years in prison with 5 years to be served before parole eligibility. The crime of Burglary, second degree, has a sentencing range of 5 to 10 years in prison with a requirement to serve 85% of the sentence before parole eligibility. The crimes of Terroristic Threats and Receiving Stolen Property, third degree, have a sentencing range of 3 to 5 years in prison. Possession of Hallow Point Bullets, fourth degree, and Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, have a sentenced range of up to 18 months in prison.
The State will file a motion for pretrial detention that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge. Criminal complaints are merely accusations. Despite these accusations, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These investigations remain active and ongoing. More information will be released once 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 or contact the Paterson Police Shooting Investigation Unit at 973-321-1342.