Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announce that Quadir Whitaker, 34, from East Orange, has been arrested in connection to the homicide that took place on October 4, in the area of 259 Harrison Street in Paterson.
Officials say on October 21, 2019, shorty before 1:00 p.m., officers arrested Whitaker while at Paterson Police headquarters. Whitaker is charged with Murder, first degree; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, first degree, Certain Persons not to Possess Firearms, second degree; and Resisting Arrest, third degree.
Officials say at approximately 10:22 p.m, 2019, police officers responded to the intersection of Harrison Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard in the City of Paterson in response to a report of shots fired.
Upon their arrival, the officers discovered one victim, Petra Rhoden, 43, Paterson, who was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle which had just crashed through a fence and struck a shed.
The officers observed that she had an apparent gunshot wound and immediately started CPR.
Ms. Rhoden was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center where she died from her wounds a short time later.
The investigation revealed that Ms. Rhoden was making a Door Dash food delivery in the area of 259 Harrison Street, when she was approached by a male suspect who approached her from behind and opened fire.
Rhoden was able to get back to her vehicle and drive off before crashing a short distance away.
The shooter got into the passenger seat of a vehicle waiting nearby, and the vehicle fled the scene.
The investigation also revealed the suspect’s vehicle had been following the victim’s vehicle as she was picking up food at a local drive through and making her last delivery.
Whitaker was later identified as the driver of the vehicle assisting the shooter.
The State has filed a motion for pretrial detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge sometime next week at a date and time to be determined by the Court.