Fort Lee High School, Lemoine Ave, Fort Lee, NJ
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced charges against a 16-year-old juvenile in connection with a stabbing that occurred at Fort Lee High School in Fort Lee, NJ. The charges in this matter are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew Hintze.
As previously reported, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at approximately 10:52 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department responded to an emergency radio call from a uniformed officer assigned to Fort Lee High School. The officer reported a stabbing at the school, and additional police units were dispatched, which included assistance from neighboring jurisdictions and agencies. Responding Fort Lee Police Officers discovered a male juvenile student had been stabbed multiple times. First responders and school security personnel provided first aid before the victim was promptly transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The victim survived and is currently listed in critical but stable condition.
During the incident, the school was placed on lockdown. The suspect, who was identified as a 16-year-old fellow student, was apprehended on scene. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation with the Fort Lee Police Department. The investigation revealed that the suspect and the victim were in a school restroom and engaged in an altercation when the suspect stabbed the victim several times with a knife. The victim was stabbed in the neck, abdomen, back, and arm, causing serious injuries.
As a result of the investigation, the juvenile suspect was placed in protective custody and charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/2C: 11-3a(1)/a(2); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C: 39-4d; and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d. The juvenile was transferred to the custody of the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center, pending a closed hearing in Bergen County Superior Court, Family Law Division.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Fort Lee Police Department for its assistance with this investigation, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Englewood Cliffs Police Department, Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department, and Port Authority Police Department for their response and assistance.
