Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi
announce that based upon an investigation by the Clifton Police Department, Mohammed
Abuhaj was arrested on March 8, 2023, in relation to an investigation into an attempted murder
that took place on March 8, 2023, in Clifton, NJ. Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj is charged with
Attempted Murder, First Degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Third
Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Fourth Degree.
On March 8, 2023, members of the Clifton Police Department responded to a residential address
in Clifton, NJ on a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, they located a
31-year-old Clifton resident who sustained life threatening injuries as a result of being struck by
a vehicle driven by Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj. The victim was immediately transported to Saint
Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson for treatment. Based on the investigation Mr.
Mohammed Abuhaj was identified as the actor who struck the victim with his vehicle causing
him to sustain serious life-threatening injuries. The victim will remain unidentified pursuant to
the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Mohammed Abuhaj on First Degree Attempted Murder is 10-
20 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before
parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and 5 years of parole supervision upon
release; on Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose it is 3-5 years New Jersey State
Prison; on Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, it is 18 months New Jersey State Prison.
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.
