By: Tracie Carter
A Paterson man has been charged in connection with a shooting that occurred late last month along Route 80 in Totowa, authorities said.
Following an investigation by the New Jersey State Police, Fabian Perez, 25, of Paterson, was charged in connection with the January 31, 2026, shooting in the area of Route 80 West and Union Boulevard.
Perez faces multiple charges, including first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and third-degree criminal mischief.
According to authorities, state troopers were dispatched to the area at approximately 11:52 p.m. on January 31 after receiving reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, police located an 18-year-old female victim from Teaneck and a 36-year-old male victim from Paterson.
Neither victim was struck by gunfire. Investigators were able to identify a potential crime scene in the area.
The subsequent investigation determined that Perez was responsible for the shooting, officials said.
On February 6, 2026, at approximately 5:51 a.m., Perez was arrested without incident in the area of Ellison Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard.
The arrest was carried out by the New Jersey State Police, the Paterson Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
The charges were announced by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and New Jersey State Police Acting Superintendent Lieutenant Colonel David Sierotowicz.
If convicted, Perez faces significant prison time. First-degree attempted murder carries a sentencing range of 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, with 85 percent of the sentence required to be served before parole eligibility. 
Second-degree aggravated assault also carries a potential sentence of 5 to 10 years, subject to the same parole ineligibility period.
Weapons offenses carry potential sentences of 5 to 10 years with a mandatory minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility, while third-degree criminal mischief carries a possible sentence of 3 to 5 years in state prison.