By: Jeff Sommes
Three teenagers from New York City have been charged in connection with a violent armed carjacking that occurred in Hackensack nearly a year ago, according to a statement released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old—who were all juveniles at the time of the incident—face charges following a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department.
Authorities said the incident took place around 4:26 a.m. on April 22, 2024, when the victim was parked outside a convenience store on South River Street.
A masked suspect approached, assaulted the victim, and attempted to take their jewelry.
The attacker fled to a black Mercedes Benz, but moments later, the vehicle returned and blocked the victim's car, allowing multiple masked individuals to surround and threaten the victim.
They stole the victim’s car, wallet, jewelry, and phone before fleeing the scene.
According to the statement released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives later discovered that the Mercedes used during the crime had been stolen in New York City just hours before the Hackensack carjacking.
Months of investigative work ultimately led to the identification of the three suspects, all of whom reside in New York City.
In March 2025, all three individuals were charged with juvenile delinquency offenses, including robbery, carjacking, and weapons-related violations. 
With the assistance of the NYPD and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, authorities located and served the suspects with the charges on April 16, 2025.
The teens remain in custody in New York pending extradition to Bergen County.