A man was stabbed in the chest and critically injured when he tried to break up a street fight in Paterson, NJ.
According to Paterson police, the fight started shortly after midnight when two (2) men bumped into each other on the street.
The 39-year-old victim intervened, stepping in to try to stop the two brawlers. But the victim was soon stabbed in the chest.
The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
Authorities made an arrest in connection with the stabbing but did not immediately release details.
Aggravated assault in New Jersey is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1. According to the statute, a person is guilty of second degree aggravated assault if he attempts to cause bodily injury to another person while using a deadly weapon. Because the suspect in this case used a knife during the fight, he could face second degree aggravated assault charges. If convicted of second degree aggravated assault, he could be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Man Stabbed in Chest in Paterson While Trying to Break Up Fight.”
