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Emmanuel Bernard |
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Nahzair Ellen |
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Afranni Ferreira |
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Izaiah Hernandez |
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Rhyonne Jackson |
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Ernest Wilder |
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman
announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department, Emmanuel
Bernard, 18 years old, from Clifton, New Jersey; Nahzair Ellen, 21 years old, from Passaic,
New Jersey; Afranni Ferreira, 18 years old, from Clifton, New Jersey; Izaiah Hernandez, 21
years old, from Passaic, New Jersey; Rhyonne Jackson, 21 years old, from Passaic, New
Jersey; and Ernest Wilder, 20 years old, from Passaic, New Jersey, were arrested in relation
to a shooting that occurred on June 18, 2023, in the area Brinkerhoff Place and Van Winkle
Avenue in Passaic, New Jersey. Emmanuel Bernard is charged with three counts of
Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree;
three counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; and
Criminal Mischief, Fourth Degree. Afranni Ferreira, Izaiah Hernandez and Ernest Wilder
are all charged with Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; Conspiracy to Commit
Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree;
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; and Criminal Mischief,
Fourth Degree. Nahzair Ellen and Rhyonne Jackson are both charged with Conspiracy to
Commit Aggravated Assault, Second Degree.
On June 18, 2023, at approximately 5:46 a.m., members of the Passaic Police Department
responded to the area of Van Winkle Avenue and Brinkerhoff Place in Passaic, New Jersey,
on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police located a crime scene, but no victim was
located. Based on the investigation, police determined that Emmanuel Bernard had fired a
handgun at a Honda Accord driving on Brinkerhoff Place in Passaic, New Jersey. As
Emmanuel Bernard fired at the Honda, three men exited from a Jeep Cherokee and fired
shots at Bernard as he was shooting at the Honda Accord. An investigation by the Passaic
Police Department’s Detective Bureau led to the identification of Afranni Ferrreira, Izaiah
Hernandez and Ernest Wilder as being the three men who exited the Jeep and fired shots at
Emmanuel Bernard, and to the identification of Nazhair Ellen and Rhyonne Jackson as coconspirators with Ferreira, Hernandez and Wilder.
The sentencing exposure for Aggravated Assault, Second Degree, is 5-10 years New Jersey
State Prison with 85% to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release
Act and three years parole supervision after release; on Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated
Assault, Second Degree, is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% to be served before
parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and three years parole supervision
after release; on Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Second Degree, it is 5-10 years New
Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the
Graves Act; on Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree, it is 5-
10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the
Graves Act; and on Criminal Mischief, Fourth Degree it is up to 18 months in New Jersey
State Prison.
The State has filed motions for pretrial detention against Nahzair Ellen, Afranni Ferreira,
Izaiah Hernandez, and Ernest Wilder that will be heard by the Hon. Miguel de la Carrera,
J.S.C. on June 28, 2023. The State has filed a motion for pretrial detention against
Emmanuel Bernard that will be heard by the Hon. Scott T. Rumana, J.S.C. on June 30, 2023.
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 tips@passaiccountynj.org or
contact the Passaic Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-365-3938.
