Officer critically stabbed outside Camden grocery store; suspect in custody

CAMDEN, N.J. - A young police officer is fighting for his life after an unprovoked attack in the line of duty in Camden on Sunday.

An investigation is underway.

What we know:

Officials are investigating after police say a Camden County police officer was stabbed outside a grocery store Sunday night.

Police say just before 6 p.m. on Sunday night, an officer was speaking to an individual outside Duran Grocery, at Broadway and Chestnut, as he was there to do a business check. 

Completely unprovoked, police say Richard Dennis, 38, came up and stabbed the officer in the neck.

"He quickly went back to his training applied pressure while hitting his emergency button on his radio," said Chief Rodriguez. "There was a supervisor directly down the street, probably a half block away that responded immediately, put him in the vehicle, and transported him here to the hospital which really saved his life."

Police say Dennis was taken into custody around the corner three minutes later and they recovered the knife.

Dennis, 38, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and related offenses.

Camden County police identified the officer as Joshua McKnight, 23, a Pine Hill, NJ native who served as a Marine for four years before joining the department two years ago.

Chief Gabriel Rodriguez says Officer McKnight is responsive, still in and out of consciousness, but they are hopeful his condition will continue to improve.

What we don't know:

Police say Dennis would not speak with investigators, so they still do not have a motive.

What they're saying:

Officials are calling the attack "unprovoked," and say it unfolded as the officer was conducting a business check.

"This is a surreal feeling for us, we’re all feeling a numbness that this happened to one of us in this way, unprovoked, and it’s scary," said Chief Rodriguez. "This is a job he’s wanted to do his entire life, his mother said that as soon as she got to the hospital. He was out of his vehicle for 58 seconds before this attack occurred."

Attorney General Matt Platkin condemned the violent attack on those in the line of duty.

"On Sunday evening, a member of the Camden County Police Department was stabbed in the line of duty in Camden, New Jersey… No acts of violence can be condoned, in particular ones that target our heroic law enforcement professionals. Our heartfelt prayers are with the officer who was injured, the responding officers, and their loved ones waiting, hoping for their safe return home."

"When something like this that just doesn’t make any sense happened it hurts everyone, everyone’s impacted," says Mayor Victor Carstarphen, who visited the officer at the hospital Sunday night.

There was a heavy, visible police presence back at the scene today and around the neighborhood. Chief Rodriguez says that area is always on their radar, and it is not unusual for officers to be in cars by themselves with other officers working nearby. However, they’re considering everything.

"We want to make sure our officers feel safe while they’re out there doing their job, so yes, I am considering some changes as well," he said. 

What's next:

Dennis is expected to appear in court for a detention hearing at 9:00 a.m. Thursday at the Camden County Hall of Justice.