By: Richard L. Smith
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of an 18-year-old Hackensack resident and charges filed against a juvenile following a violent stabbing incident earlier this week.
Authorities identified the adult suspect as Joaquin Morris Jr., 18, of Hackensack.
A 16-year-old juvenile was also charged in connection with the incident, which remains under investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department.
According to officials, the incident unfolded around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, when police responded to reports of an injured person near the intersection of Banta Place and State Street.
Upon arrival, officers located a 16-year-old male suffering from a stab wound. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was treated and listed in stable condition.
A joint investigation revealed that the violence stemmed from an earlier altercation at Central Avenue and Union Street involving the victim, another juvenile, and Morris Jr.
During the confrontation, authorities said the 16-year-old allegedly brandished a large machete and swung it multiple times at Morris Jr.
In response, Morris Jr. allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the teen multiple times in the torso before fleeing the scene along with the other juvenile.
Following the investigation, the injured 16-year-old was charged with juvenile delinquency, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and weapons offenses.
After being released from the hospital on March 27, he was placed in custody at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Facility pending further court proceedings.
Morris Jr. was arrested the same day and charged with second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The investigation remains ongoing.