Ernest Lawrence
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Ernest Lawrence, a 35-year-old male from Passaic, has been charged in connection to the March 16, 2025 homicide which occurred in the area of 4th Street and Bergen Street in Passaic. Ernest Lawrence is charged with the crimes of Murder, first degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, fourth degree; and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, third degree.
On March 16, 2025, at approximately 9:40 a.m., members of the Passaic Police Department responded to a residence in the area of 4th Street and Bergen Street in Passaic on a report of a stabbing. When they arrived, they found the victim, Daniela Ghafour, a 31-year-old female from Passaic, with multiple stab wounds. The victim was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The subsequent investigation resulted in the identification of Ernest Lawrence as the individual involved in the fatal stabbing.
Ernest Lawrence was located in North Carolina and extradited to New Jersey on March 26, 2026. He is currently in custody awaiting his first appearance at Central Judicial Processing on these charges. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office will file a motion for pre-trial detention which will be heard by a Superior Court Judge at a date and time to be determined by the Court.
Murder has a sentencing range from a minimum of 30 years up to life imprisonment; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree) carries a sentencing range between 5 and 10 years in prison; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree) has a sentencing range of up to 18 months in prison.
Criminal complaints are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org, or an anonymous tip via our website at https://pcponj.opsnetwork.org/tips.