FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A Somerset man has been arrested for an attempted murder that occurred last month in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On Saturday, July 23, at around 12:33 a.m., police responded to an area hospital in response to a report of an individual suffering from stab wounds. Upon responding to the hospital, patrol officers located an adult male suffering from two stab wounds, McDonald said.
The victim indicated that the incident initially began as a verbal altercation at a gas station in Franklin Township. During the verbal altercation, the suspect, later identified as Matthew B. Hall, 32, put his hands on the victim and the victim responded by shoving Hall, McDonald said.
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, McDonald said.
Hall then proceeded into his vehicle and followed the victim. 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 this neck and chest. The victim attempted to block the assault resulting in stab wounds to his hand and bicep, McDonald said.
Hall was arrested on Wednesday, July 27 without incident in Franklin Township and charged with first-degree attempted murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He was then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
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 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
