Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Zamaire Barden, who was charged with murder and attempted murder while a juvenile in April 2015, will be tried as an adult.
On April 29, 2015, at approximately 9:46 a.m., Dennis Gillespie, 43, of Warwick, N.Y., was accompanied by a female in his vehicle in the area of Fulton and Mercer Streets within the city of Paterson.
Barden, who has since turned 18, is alleged to have fired several shots into the vehicle, killing Gillespie and wounding the female.
Barden is charged with one count of first degree murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2c:11-3, which carries a maximum term of 30 years to life in New Jersey State Prison for an adult.
He is also charged with two counts of second degree unlawful possession of a weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2c:39-5(b), one count of first degree attempted murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2c:5-1/11-3, and two counts of second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2c:39-4(a).
In May 2015, the State filed a motion with the Family Court to waive the matter to Criminal Court for an adult prosecution. On February 19, 2016, the Honorable Greta Gooden-Brown, J.S.C. found probable cause to charge Barden with murder, attempted murder and related weapons offenses, and granted the State’s waiver motion.
Barden will be arraigned at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 before the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, P.J. at Passaic County Superior Court, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson