Teen charged with attempted murder of NJ police officer

Attempted murder charges have been filed against a teenager from Virginia after authorities say he repeatedly tried to stab a police officer in Burlington County following an intentional traffic accident.

News snapshot

• Authorities say a teenager caused an accident, and when police responded, he attacked them with a knife
• One officer suffered facial injuries, two others hurt
• No reason was given as to why the teenager, who is from Virginia, was in New Jersey

VA teen charged after stabbing NJ cop

The unnamed 16-year-old from Alexandria, VA, is facing the following charges:

• First-degree attempted murder
• 2 counts of third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
• 2 counts of fourth-degree assault by auto
• Third-degree resisting arrest
• Third-degree criminal mischief
• Third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
• Third-degree theft of a motor vehicle
• Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
• Fourth-degree obstruction

Attempted murder of cop in Florence, NJ

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw says the scene unfolded around 4:30 on the afternoon of March 21st when a Florence police officer’s vehicle was intentionally struck multiple times while he was responding to a report of an accident.

When the teen's vehicle became disabled on Route 130 near Station Road, he got out and ran directly toward officers at the scene, "aggressively lunging at them with a knife."

One of the officers suffered facial injuries and a laceration to his torso while disarming the suspect. Two other officers were treated and released.

• MORE NEWS: NJ can't charge cop-killing teen as adult, so Feds say they will

Later in the investigation, authorities discovered that the teenager also caused the first collision that the officer was responding to before being struck by the juvenile in his patrol vehicle.

The teen, whose identity will not be released because of his age, is being held in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Florence Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.