Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 18-year-old ANDREW CRUZ of New Milford, NJ; 18-year-old MALACHI J. GOODWIN of Teaneck, NJ; 19-year-old KEVIN K. HIBBERT of Teaneck; 18-year-old ALLAN G. MARTIN of Teaneck, NJ; 20-year-old ERIC T. WILLIAMS of Teaneck; and a 17-year-old juvenile, on charges stemming from an attempted murder investigation. The arrests are the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the New Milford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Clancy.
On Monday, March 17, 2025, at approximately 3:15 p.m., the New Milford Police Department responded to a large fight in the area of Madison Plaza, located on River Road in New Milford, NJ. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered a victim who had been stabbed multiple times, and that the suspects involved in this incident fled the scene prior to their arrival. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Accordingly, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the incident and joined the investigation with the New Milford Police Department.
During the course of the joint investigation, it was determined that MALACHI J. GOODWIN, who was located fleeing the scene by responding officers and taken into custody shortly after the assault, was one of several individuals involved in the incident. As a result of the investigation, GOODWIN was charged on March 17, 2025, with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:11-3a(1); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); third-degree hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1); and fourth-degree tampering with evidence, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-6(1). GOODWIN made his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ and was ordered released pending further court action.
Additionally, on Monday, March 17, 2025, ANDREW CRUZ was identified as one of several individuals involved in the incident. CRUZ was located, arrested in New Milford, NJ, and charged with second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); and third-degree hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1). CRUZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending further action by the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as a result of the ongoing investigation, ALLAN G. MARTIN was identified as another individual involved in this incident. MARTIN was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:11-3a(1); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); and fourth-degree eluding, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(2). MARTIN made his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ and was ordered released pending further court action.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, a juvenile from Bergen County was identified another individual involved in the incident. The juvenile was taken into protective custody and charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); and third-degree simple assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2a. The juvenile was released to home confinement in the custody of a parent or guardian pending further action by Bergen County Superior Court Family Law Division.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as a result of the ongoing investigation, KEVIN K. HIBBERT and ERIC T. WILLIAMS were identified as two more individuals involved in this incident. Both men were charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:11-3a(1); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4D; fourth-degree possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5D; and fourth-degree eluding, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(2).
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, with assistance from the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and New Milford Police Department located and arrested KEVIN K. HIBBERT and ERIC T. WILLIAMS in Teaneck, NJ. HIBBERT and WILLIAMS were both taken into custody without incident and remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
The investigation into this incident is continuing. Anyone with information may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.
Prosecutor Musella states that all the charges in this case are merely accusations, and that all the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks and recognizes the New Milford Police Department for their assistance throughout this investigation. In addition, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Regional S.W.A.T. Team, the Teaneck Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for their assistance with this investigation.