Passaic County officials announce that at approximately 6:20 a.m. on Sunday, January 9, members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to 288 12th Avenue in Paterson in response to a report of an injured person.
According to officials, upon their arrival, officers located a male victim, 39-year-old M.B. from Paterson, unresponsive and lying face down on the living room floor of the first-floor apartment with a large laceration to the back of his head.
Paterson Police Officers immediately contacted medical personnel for assistance.
The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene at approximately 6:40 a.m.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the victim’s roommate, Raymond Menafield, 40, of Paterson, engaged the victim in a dispute and then struck the victim in the head with a rock which led to his death.
According to county officials, on January 10, Menafield was taken into custody at approximately 4:10 p.m., without incident.
Officials state that Menafield is currently charged with Murder, Possession of a Weapon (Rock) for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Rock).
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact them on their tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.