35°
Christian A. Velez, 24, and the victim got out of their vehicles in front of the Popeye's on the highway’s eastbound side during an unspecified argument around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said.
The 28-year-old victim, who was driving a Mercedes van, was stabbed in the side and back and slashed once on the arm, the chief said.
He was recovering Friday at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Witnesses described the assailant for responding borough officers and detectives, who collected video with a clear view of the incident from at least one area surveillance camera.
The 5-foot-3-inch, 155-pound Velez, who witnesses said sped off in a white BMW, was in custody just hours later.
He was first brought to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus for a psychological evaluation and remained held Friday in the Bergen County Jail.
In addition to attempted murder, Velez is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
Detectives from Musella’s Major Crimes Unit worked the case with their Paramus colleagues, assisted by the Bergen County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification, which collected evidence on and just off the highway.
Click here to follow Daily Voice West Milford and receive free news updates.
