Masked Man Brandished Handgun At Mall In Bergen County, Police Say

PARAMUS, NJ — A Newark man is facing weapons charges after authorities say he brandished a handgun at a North Jersey mall on Tuesday.

Charlie Williams, 19, of Newark was arrested Wednesday morning in Newark, Paramus police said.

Security at Garden State Plaza called Paramus police about 9 p.m. Tuesday and said a mall customer had reported seeing a man in a ski mask pulling a handgun from his waistband, authorities said.

The man took off shortly after showing the handgun and was last seen in a 2021 Hyundai Elantra leaving the area, police said.

Detective Michael Focarino reviewed surveillance footage that confirmed a man had pulled out a handgun, and police said he was "brandishing the firearm." They did not say whether the man pointed the handgun in the direction of others who were in the mall.

Chief Robert Guidetti said the incident occurred while the mall was still open, around 7 p.m., but the witness did not report it to a security officer until around 9 p.m.

"The witness reported the suspect was walking in the mall when the gun was observed," Guidetti said.

About 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, Newark police found the car and the man described in connection with the incident and contacted Paramus police. Focarino confirmed the match and Williams was arrested, police said.

Williams has been charged with second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, Paramus police said. He is being held in the Bergen County Jail pending court proceedings, police said.

Paramus police are continuing to investigate to see if any other people were involved in the incident, they said.