Man arrested after 'brazen' daytime armed robbery in Paterson

PATERSON — Authorities have arrested one of the alleged gunmen in last Friday’s broad-daylight armed robbery at a barbershop in the downtown area.

Police said they also have identified two of the other people involved in the crime and predicted they will be apprehended soon.

A video showing four people brandishing guns as they approached the barbershop stunned city officials and community leaders, who called the brazenness of the crime unprecedented.

Nazier Balmer, 23, of Paterson was arrested Wednesday at about 6:30 p.m. and charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and several other crimes. Balmer was convicted of committing an armed robbery in 2019 and spent a little over three years in prison before being released in October 2023, state corrections records show.

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“The men and women of the Paterson Police Department continue to exceed all expectations,” said Isa Abbassi, the state-appointed officer in charge. “They are the true protectors of this city, there when people need them most with a quiet and composed strength of character that can rise above any distraction.

“I am immensely proud of the work of our officers and investigators to quickly bring in one person connected to this heinous case,” Abbassi said, “and know it will not be long before the others are in custody. We will never be deterred from our mission.”

Video showed men holding guns at scene

The video showed four men holding guns at the scene. Police said the victim described being robbed by three people. Police sources said investigators are looking into the role played in the crime by the fourth person.

Police said the suspects fled in a vehicle before officers arrived last Friday at the barbershop, two blocks from the Passaic County Courthouse.

At least five victims said they were approached on the sidewalk by three males wearing all black, carrying long guns, and that they were robbed at gunpoint, police said. The suspects took cash, jewelry, phones and a key fob. None of the victims were injured during the incidents.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Man arrested after 'brazen' daytime armed robbery in Paterson