Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department, Almalik D. Barnes, 41, from Passaic,, was arrested on Tuesday in relation to a shooting investigation that took place November 2, 2019. Mr. Barnes is charged with Attempted Murder, First Degree (2 counts); Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Second Degree; Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree (2 Counts); Possession of a Hollow Point Bullets, Fourth Degree (2 Counts); and Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons, Second Degree (2 Counts).
Authorities say on November 2, members of the Passaic Police Department responded to a business located in the area of Main Avenue Passaic, on a call of a disturbance.
Upon arrival members of the Passaic Police Department were advised an individual had been shot inside the business and left.
A short time later members of the Passaic Police Department located a 40-year-old male Passaic resident in the area of Elliot Street who was suffering from a non-fatal gunshot wound.
The victim was immediately transported to Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson for treatment. A second victim, a 21-year-old male Florida resident, was not injured. Based on the investigation, Mr. Barnes was identified and arrested on November 26, 2019 in the area of Summer Avenue Newark,
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Barnes on each county of First Degree Attempted Murder is 10- 20 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole pursuant to the No Early Release Act and 5 years parole supervision; on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on each count of Second Degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act, on Fourth Degree Possession of Hollow Point Bullets it is up to 18 months New Jersey State Prison; and on each count of Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison, with a minimum of 5 years before parole eligibility.
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.
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 contact the Passaic Police Department at 973-365-3900.