New Jersey police officer stabbed while on-duty, suspect arrested in minutes | Law Enforcement Today

CAMDEN, NJ - Camden County Police Officer Joshua McKnight, a 23-year-old former Marine, was brutally stabbed in the neck Sunday while on duty in what Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez described as a “senseless act.” The attack reportedly occurred outside a Camden grocery store shortly before 6:00 p.m. and left the officer in critical, but stable condition.

Chief Rodriguez told reporters Monday that McKnight is responsive and drifting in and out of consciousness, but, according to CBS News, said he shows “promising signs” of recovery and may recover fully.

"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.
The outlet reported that a suspect in the stabbing identified by police as Richard Dennis, 38, was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and aggravated assault among other charges in connection to the attack.

.@CamdenCoPros extends our thoughts and prayers to the Camden County Police Officer who was seriously injured in the line of duty.
We stand together with the officer, his family, and the Camden County Police Department. #CCPO #CCPD @CamdenCountyPD @camdencountynj pic.twitter.com/NV1ezKhb1j

— Camden Co Prosecutor (@CamdenCoPros) February 24, 2025

Rodriguez told reporters that Dennis was taken into custody within three minutes of the incident just around the corner. The arresting officers recovered a knife at the scene.

"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," the Chief 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."

🚨Man Charged for Stabbing Camden County Police Officer🚨 https://t.co/0Yqr3QbStY@CamdenCountyPD #camdencountynj #CCPO pic.twitter.com/EHHHNQOO6Z

— Camden Co Prosecutor (@CamdenCoPros) February 24, 2025

A press release from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Dennis has been remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility, pending a detention hearing and that the investigation is ongoing headed by detectives from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Camden County Police Department.