By: Richard L. Smith
A 17-year-old juvenile has pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a Florence Township police officer and assaulting multiple officers during a violent confrontation last year and will now be sentenced as an adult, according to a statement released by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said Fasihullah Safar, of Alexandria, Virginia, entered guilty pleas in Superior Court to attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, and motor vehicle theft.
Under a negotiated agreement with prosecutors, Safar is expected to receive an 18-year state prison sentence.
The case was transferred from juvenile court to adult court in September 2025 after prosecutors successfully petitioned for Safar to be tried as an adult.
Sentencing has been scheduled for March 26 in Mount Holly before Superior Court Judge Aimee Belgard.
Authorities said the incident unfolded on March 21, 2025, shortly after 4:30 p.m., when a Florence Township police officer was responding to a report of an overturned vehicle.
Investigators determined that Safar deliberately struck the officer’s patrol vehicle multiple times during the response.
Safar’s vehicle later became disabled on Route 130 near Station Road. When additional officers arrived, prosecutors said Safar exited his vehicle and charged at them while swinging a knife.
During the confrontation, one officer was stabbed several times in the chest area, but a protective vest prevented more serious injuries.
Safar continued to resist arrest and had to be subdued by officers. Another officer suffered facial injuries and a cut to the torso, while two additional officers were treated at a hospital and released.
Safar was not seriously injured, aside from a cut to his finger that investigators said was caused by his own knife.
The investigation also revealed that Safar had been involved in the initial crash that prompted the police response, after striking another patrol vehicle earlier in the incident.
During the court proceeding, Safar told the judge that in the months leading up to the attack, he had begun following the Islamic State terrorist organization on social media.
He admitted expressing intentions online about joining the group and stated that he believed becoming a terrorist would allow him to defend his religion.
Prosecutors emphasized that the guilty plea holds Safar accountable for a violent and targeted attack on law enforcement officers.