Camden County, New Jersey, police officer stabbed; suspect charged, officials say
An on-duty Camden County police officer was stabbed in the neck on Sunday night in a "senseless act," Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said. The stabbing happened outside of Duran Grocery at the intersection of Broadway and Chestnut Street in Camden just before 6 p.m.
Rodriguez said Joshua McKnight, the 23-year-old officer and former Marine, is in critical but stable condition at Cooper University Hospital. Police stated earlier that the officer was 28 years old.
In an update on Monday, Rodriguez said the officer is responsive, in and out of consciousness but is showing "promising signs" of a potential full recovery.
"He still has a lot of challenges ahead and we just ask that everyone keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers," Rodriguez said.
Richard Dennis, 38, was charged with attempted murder in connection to the stabbing, Rodriguez said. He was also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault and other offenses.
Police initially said Dennis was homeless with a last known address in Lindenwold, though the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement early Monday morning that he was from Sicklerville.
Rodriguez said McKnight, who joined Camden County police in 2023, was assigned to South Camden by his supervisor and made a stop at Duran Grocery. The officer was outside of his car for about a minute talking to someone when he was allegedly stabbed by Dennis from behind, injuring his carotid artery, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said the officer's supervisor went to the grocery store after hearing commotion on the scanner and found McKnight stabbed. The supervisor immediately put him in the car and brought him to the hospital, Rodriguez said.
Dennis was taken into custody in less than three minutes after the initial incident right around the corner on Marion Street, according to Rodriguez. A knife was recovered on the scene, he said.
A large presence of city officials was observed in the area by the grocery store on Monday.
"This area has always been kind of on our radar, but even more so now after this. We want to send a strong message to the residents, of course, and let them know that we want to make their community safe," Rodriguez said. "This is an individual roaming their neighborhoods that would attack a police officer. They would be in harm's way as well. So we want to make sure they feel safe."
Mayor of Camden, Vic Carstarphen wished the officer a speedy recovery and said his heart is with the officer's mother and family.
"When you hear, see something like this, you just say 'Why?' Our officers do a great job in our community," he said. "Not only with policing it but being a part of the community. We call it community policing."
"Our police officers are pillars in our community," Carstarphen said. "Public safety is something our police department takes pride in and is something that we've been building on in our community for some years now, successfully together."
On Sunday night, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued a statement sending prayers to the officer injured and thanking the responding officers.
"Our heartfelt prayers are with the officer who was injured, the responding officers, and their loved ones waiting, hoping for their safe return," the statement partially said.
Officials said Dennis will be remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility and a detention hearing will be held Thursday morning.
