Somerset County officials have announced the arrest of Matthew B. Hall, 32, of Somerset, for an attempted murder that occurred in Franklin Township on Saturday, July 23.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald stated that on Saturday, July 23, at approximately 12:33 a.m., Franklin Township Police Department responded to an area hospital in response to a report of an individual suffering from stab wounds.
According to Prosecutor McDonald, upon responding to the hospital, patrol officers located an adult male suffering from two stab wounds.
Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to investigate.
The victim indicated that the incident initially began as a verbal altercation at a gas station in Franklin Township.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that the suspect, later identified as Matthew Hall, put his hands on the victim during the verbal altercation. The victim responded by shoving Hall.
Hall then fled the gas station and retrieved a weapon from the trunk of his vehicle. As the victim drove away from the gas station, Hall attempted to strike the victim with the weapon. Hall then proceeded into his vehicle and followed the victim.
According to Prosecutor McDonald, while stopped at a traffic light on Demott Lane and Easton Avenue, Hall pulled up next to the victim’s vehicle and began to stab the victim aiming at his neck and chest.
The victim attempted to block the assault resulting in stab wounds to his hand and bicep.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that as a result of this investigation, on Wednesday, July 27, Hall was arrested without incident in Franklin Township and charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Hall was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Somerset County officials request anyone with information relating to the stabbing to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.