PATERSON — Gun violence has decreased dramatically in Paterson during 2025, with a record-setting reduction in shooting incidents and victims, according to police department statistics. Through Dec.

Paterson’s 2025 reduction in shooting victims far surpassed the state data, with the number of victims dropping from 87 in 2024 to 42 last year.

Seven people from Paterson have been arrested following the Dec. 30 shooting at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin called the launch a turning point for policing in Paterson, which has been under state oversight since 2023 following years of claims of ...