BCPO: NICHOLAS PAGANO WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER, AGGRAVATED ARSON, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON FOR AN UNLAWFUL PURPOSE ...

Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office:

Maureen Parenta

2022-02-08

For Immediate Release:

February 7, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that NICHOLAS PAGANO (DOB: 01/20/1991; single; nurse) of 968 Kings Highway, Apt X16, West Deptford, NJ, is wanted on charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, and unlawful weapons possession. He is believed to be operating a 1998 white Jeep Grand Cherokee with black roof racks and New Jersey license plate number S57 NJH. He is believed to be armed and dangerous. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer in Charge Darrin DeWitt.

On Monday, February 7, 2022, at approximately 5:15 a.m., the Hackensack Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a Hackensack University Medical Center (“HUMC”) employee on a report of an assault at the hospital. Hackensack Police responded to the hospital, where they learned that a 54-year-old HUMC employee had been attacked and burned by another individual in a break room, and that the attacker had fled the hospital.

The victim suffered third-degree burns over her upper body, face and hands, as well as a laceration to her head that required stitches. She was treated in the emergency room at HUMC and subsequently transported to another medical facility for additional treatment.

An investigation conducted by detectives from the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit revealed that NICHOLAS PAGANO burned the victim and struck the victim with a wrench.

On Monday, January 7, 2022, NICHOLAS PAGANO was charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/2C:11-3a(1); second-degree aggravated arson against the person, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(1); second-degree aggravated arson against the property, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)1; third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d.

NICHOLAS PAGANO should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public. Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts or if he is observed, please contact the Hackensack Police Department at (201) 646-7777.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

This press release was produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.