Broad Daylight Stabbing in Hackensack: Two Charged After Machete-Wielding Altercation

Machete and Knife Duel: Two Charged Following Violent Altercation in Hackensack

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, A terrifying daytime confrontation involving a machete and a knife has led to the arrest of an 18-year-old and charges against a juvenile in Hackensack. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the charges following a joint investigation into a stabbing that occurred on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

The incident, which unfolded near several busy intersections, sent one teenager to the hospital and another young man to the Bergen County Jail.

The Incident: A Street Fight Escalates

At approximately 3:00 p.m., Hackensack Police responded to reports of an injured person at the intersection of Banta Place and State Street. There, they discovered a 16-year-old suffering from a stab wound to the torso.

The investigation revealed that the violence actually began blocks away, at the intersection of Central Avenue and Union Street. According to authorities:

• The Weaponry: During an altercation, the 16-year-old juvenile allegedly produced a large machete and swung it multiple times.

• The Response: In turn, 18-year-old Joaquin Morris Jr. produced a knife and allegedly stabbed the juvenile in the torso.

• The Flight: Morris Jr. and another juvenile fled the scene before first responders arrived to treat the 16-year-old.

Charges Filed: Aggravated Assault and Weapons Possession

The legal fallout has been swift for both parties involved in the duel.

For Joaquin Morris Jr. (18, Hackensack):

• Second-degree Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

• Third-degree Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose

• Fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon

• Status: Remanded to the Bergen County Jail.

For the 16-Year-Old Juvenile:

• Charged with Juvenile Delinquency for identical offenses (Aggravated Assault and Weapons Possession).

• Status: Transported to HMH Hackensack University Medical Center in stable condition; currently held at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Facility.

A Multi-Agency Response

Prosecutor Musella credited the rapid identification of the suspects to a collaborative effort. The Hackensack Police Department worked alongside the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police, and the Port Authority Police to secure the scene and the subsequent arrests.

Legal Note: The charges are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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