Crime & Safety

Shots Fired in Attempted Armed Robbery of Pizzeria Owner, Police Say

Trio charged in Friday night incident outside Giovanni's Pizza owner's home.

Three individuals have been arrested for the attempted armed robbery of a pizzeria owner when he returned home Friday night at around 11:20pm, Wyckoff Police said.

Luis Diaz, 21, and Jose Hidalgo, 27, both of Paterson, and Nicole Gorter, 18, of North Haledon, were each charged with first-degree robbery and possession of marijuana.

According to Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox, officers responded to an Eisenhower Court home late Friday evening on a report of gunshots being fired.

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Giovanni's Pizza owner Giovanni Raffo told police he had been confronted by two men in his driveway, Fox said. During the confrontation, a handgun in the possession one of the men was discharged, Fox said. Raffo was not injured and the two men fled the area, Fox said.

Midland Park Sgt. Noah VanVliet then conducted a routine motor vehicle stop on Cedar Hill Avenue, Fox said. Gorter, Diaz and Hidalgo were at that time taken into custody for possession of marijuana, Fox said.

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"The continuing investigation and interviews uncovered their involvement in the robbery," Fox stated in a press release. "Information provided by one of the suspects located the gun, which had been tossed away on the property of a Calvin Court home, which is nearby to Eisenhower Court."

Investigators believe the two men were dropped off by Gorter, who was employed as a waitress at Giovanni's Pizza, Fox said. The men then waited for Raffo to return home, according to police. Gorter later drove Diaz and Hidalgo away after they fled the scene.

The three individuals have been remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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