A 17-year-old from Virginia will spend 18 years in a New Jersey state prison after a violent roadside confrontation in Florence Township left one police officer repeatedly stabbed and several others injured, authorities said. Officials noted that a tactical vest worn by the stabbed officer likely prevented even more serious injuries.
According to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, Fasihullah Safar of Alexandria, Va., pleaded guilty in Superior Court to attempted murder, aggravated assault and related charges in connection with the March 21, 2025 incident. Under the terms of a negotiated plea, prosecutors said, Safar was sentenced to an 18-year state-prison term.
As detailed by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the episode began around 4:30 p.m. when Safar allegedly struck another vehicle, then intentionally rammed a Florence Township patrol car multiple times. His vehicle eventually stalled on Route 130 near Station Road. When backup officers arrived, prosecutors said Safar charged at them with a knife and stabbed one officer in the chest several times. Two other officers were injured during the struggle, treated at area hospitals and later released.
Safar told the court he had started following the Islamic State on social media and said he planned to join the group, acknowledging that he shouted "Allahu akbar" during the struggle, according to reporting from NBC10 Philadelphia. Officials also said Safar suffered a cut to one finger that appeared to have been caused by his own knife during the encounter.
Case moved to adult court and plea deal
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said the case was moved out of juvenile court in September 2025 after prosecutors filed a waiver petition, clearing the way for Safar to be tried as an adult. The guilty plea was entered in Superior Court this January.
"We stand with the Florence Township police officers who were targeted in this senseless and cowardly act of violence," Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said in the office's statement, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
School closure in Virginia preceded the arrest
Before the New Jersey attack, Safar was already on law enforcement's radar in Virginia. He was being sought after reportedly trespassing at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, prompting the city to close schools for safety while the FBI and local police searched for the missing teen, local reporting shows. Coverage in Fredericksburg noted that the FBI's Washington Field Office had notified local authorities prior to Safar's arrest in New Jersey, according to FFXnow.
Investigation and aftermath
Authorities said the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office worked with the Florence Township Police Department and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness during the investigation. With the plea in place and the case resolved in adult court, officials said the sentence brings a measure of closure for the officers injured in the Route 130 confrontation.
.jpg){kind=link}