6 Charged In Stabbing Near Bergen County Strip Mall: Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Five Bergen County teens and a 20-year-old Teaneck man have been charged in connection with a stabbing near a strip mall that left the victim with serious injuries, prosecutors said.

New Milford police responded on March 17, around 3 p.m. to a large fight in the area of the strip mall on River Road, Bergen County prosecutors said.

Police found a victim who had been stabbed multiple times, prosecutors said. The suspects had fled.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The six people charged were, according to Bergen County prosecutors: Malachi J. Goodwin, 18, of Teaneck; Andrew Cruz, 18, of New Milford; Kevin K. HIbbert, 19, of Teaneck; Allan G. Martin, 18, of Teaneck; Eric T. Williams, 20, of Teaneck, and a 17-year-old juvenile whose name was not released, prosecutors said.

Goodwin was located fleeing, prosecutors said. He was charged with first-degree attempted murder that day, as well as second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree hindering apprehension, and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

Cruz was arrested in New Milford and charged with second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree hindering apprehension, prosecutors said.

Goodwin has been released and Cruz was taken to the Bergen County Jail, prosecutors said.

The next day, Martin was arrested in Paramus and charged with first-degree attempted murder, as well as aggravated assault and eluding. He has been released to await further court action.

Also that day, the unidentified Bergen County juvenile was determined to have been involved. He was taken into protective custody and charged with juvenile delinquency offenses, including second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree simple assault. He was released into the custody of a parent or guardian to await further court action, prosecutors said.

This past Tuesday, Hibbert and Williams were arrested. Both were charged with first-degree attempted murder, as well as aggravated assault, weapons possession charges, and eluding, prosecutors said.

On Thursday, with the help of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and New Milford Police found and arrested Hibbert and Williams.

They were taken into custody and brought to Bergen County Jail to await a court appearance, prosecutors said.