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Hasan Whitaker
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Dnashia Franco
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Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In- Charge
Patrick Murray announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department
Shooting Investigation Unit, Hasan Whitaker, 39 years-old, from Paterson, New Jersey, was
arrested on August 26, 2025, and Dnashia Franco, 26 years-old, from Paterson, New Jersey, was
arrested on August 27, 2025, in connection to the shooting that took place on August 24, 2025, in
the area of Putman Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard, Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Whitaker is
charged with Aggravated Assault, second degree, Unlawful Possession of Weapon, second degree,
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Certain Person Not to Possess a
Weapon, second degree, Receiving Stolen Property, third degree, and Possession of a Controlled
Dangerous Substance, third degree. Ms. Franco was charged with Attempted Murder, first degree,
Unlawful Possession of Weapon, second degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose,
second degree, Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, second degree, Possession of a Large
Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, and Possession of Hollow Point Ammunition, fourth degree.
At approximately 5:49 a.m. on August 24, 2025, members of the Paterson Police Department
responded to the area of Putman Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard on a report of a shooting. Police
located a 37-year-old-male victim from Paterson, New Jersey, suffering from non-fatal gunshot
wounds. The victim who was transported via ambulance to St. Jospeh’s University Medical Center
in Paterson for treatment. Police were able to locate a potential crime scene in the area.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Whitaker and Ms. Franco were responsible for the
shooting. On August 26, 2025, at approximately 4:10 p.m., Mr. Whitaker was arrested by New
Jersey State Parole Officers, Paterson Patrol Officers, and the Shooting Investigation Unit without
incident in the area of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Putnam Street, Paterson, New Jersey. On August
27, 2025, at approximately 3:50 p.m., Ms. Franco was arrested by the Paterson Police Shooting
Investigation Unit without incident, in the area of Lyon Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard, Paterson,
New Jersey.
The sentencing exposure on First Degree Attempted Murder is 10-20 years New Jersey State
Prison with 85% of that term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release
Act, five years parole supervision thereafter; on Second Degree Aggravated Assault is 5-10 years
New Jersey State Prison with 85% of that term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to
the No Early Release Act, three years parole supervision thereafter on Second Degree Unlawful
Possession of a Weapon it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months to be served
before parole eligibility; on Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose it is
5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months to be served before parole eligibility; on
Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 5 years to
be served before parole eligibility; on Third Degree Receiving Stolen Property, and Third Degree
Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substances it is 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison; and on
Fourth Degree Possession of a High Capacity, and Fourth Degree Extended Magazine, it is 18
months in New Jersey State Prison.
The State has filed a motion for pretrial detention against Mr. Whitaker and Ms. Franco, which
will be scheduled before a Superior Court Judge. Criminal complaints are merely accusations.
Despite these accusations, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt.
These investigations remain active and ongoing. More information will be released once it
becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this
incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org,
submit an anonymous tip via our website at https://pcponj.opsnetwork.org/tips or contact the
Paterson Police Shooting Investigation Unit at 973-321-1342.
