By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A 17-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted murder after stabbing a Florence Township police officer in Burlington County, New Jersey.
• The attack occurred March 21, 2025, after officers stopped a stolen vehicle along Route 130.
• Prosecutors said the teen admitted he intended to kill a police officer and had sought to join ISIS.
• One officer suffered multiple stab wounds but was protected by a ballistic vest.
• The suspect is scheduled to be sentenced in Superior Court in Mount Holly.
MOUNT HOLLY, NJ — A 17-year-old Virginia resident pleaded guilty in Superior Court to attempted murder and related charges stemming from a March 2025 stabbing attack on a Florence Township police officer, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors said the incident occurred March 21 after Florence Township police located a stolen vehicle traveling southbound on Route 130 near Station Road. The suspect intentionally crashed the vehicle and fled on foot before confronting officers with a knife.
During the encounter, one officer was stabbed multiple times in the chest area. Authorities said the officer’s ballistic vest reduced the severity of the injuries. Two additional officers sustained minor injuries while assisting in the arrest.
According to court records, the teen admitted he intended to kill a police officer and acknowledged supporting the Islamic State terrorist organization and attempting to join the group. The suspect also admitted making threats during the attack.
The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was charged as an adult. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26 in Superior Court in Mount Holly. The investigation is considered closed pending sentencing.