Man Wanted For Armed Carjacking Arrested On Asbury Park Beach

ASBURY PARK, NJ — A Newark man wanted for an armed carjacking was taken into police custody on the beach in Asbury Park last week, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.

The man was identified by police as Zahir Christmas, 37.

The armed carjacking occurred in Clifton on Aug. 20, said the Passaic County Prosecutor.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. that day, Clifton Police were called to 1255 Broad Street for a 911 call of an injured man. Officers located a 27-year-old man from Pearl River, NY with multiple lacerations. He told police he had been stabbed by a man who then drove off in his car.

He was taken to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, and survived.

Christmas was identified as the suspect; a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Last Sunday, Aug. 28, Christmas was located by police on the beach at Fourth Avenue in Asbury Park. He was taken into police custody at approximately 4:44 a.m. that day and his currently at the Passaic County Jail.

Christmas is charged with serious charges, including first-degree attempted murder, first-degree armed robbery, first-degree carjacking and second-degree aggravated assault, plus weapons offenses.

New Jersey, particularly North Jersey and the wealthy Monmouth County suburbs, have witnessed a car theft and carjacking surge in 2022.