Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a juvenile charged with attempting to kill a Florence Township police officer and assaulting two other officers early last year pled guilty yesterday in Superior Court and will be sentenced as an adult.
Under an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, Fasihullah Safar, 17, of Alexandria, Va., will be sentenced to an 18-year term in state prison in exchange for guilty pleas to Attempted Murder (First Degree), Aggravated Assault (Second Degree), Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer (Third Degree) and Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Third Degree).
The case was elevated from juvenile court in September 2025 after the Prosecutor’s Office filed a petition to waive Safar up to adult status. The Hon. Aimee Belgard, P.J.Cr., scheduled sentencing for March 26 in Mount Holly.
The incident began March 21, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m. after Safar intentionally struck a Florence police patrol vehicle multiple times while the officer was responding to a report of an overturned vehicle.
Following the collision, Safar’s vehicle became inoperable on Route 130 near Station Road. When additional officers arrived on the scene, Safar charged toward them while aggressively swinging a knife and stabbed an officer multiple times in the chest area. Fortunately, the officer was wearing a vest that prevented more significant injuries.
Safar refused to surrender and had to be subdued. One of the officers suffered facial injuries and a laceration to his torso. Two other officers were treated and released. Safar was uninjured, except for a cut on one of his fingers which was caused by his own knife.
It was learned later in the investigation that Safar also caused the first collision that the officer was responding to when Safar struck his patrol vehicle.
During yesterday’s proceeding, Safar told the court that in the months leading up to the confrontation with police, he had begun following the Islamic State terrorist organization, formerly referred to as ISIS. He indicated on social media that he planned to join the group, and stated that becoming a terrorist would enable him to defend his religion.
In response to questioning from his public defender, Safar admitted to screaming “Allahu akbar” during the scuffle, and acknowledged that his intention was to promote terrorism by killing one of the officers.
“We stand with the Florence Township police officers who were targeted in this senseless and cowardly act of violence,” Prosecutor Bradshaw said. “Violence driven by hatred or intolerance has no place here and will be met with the full force of the law. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to protecting every resident from violent and hateful acts.”
Safar is being prosecuted by BCPO Assistant Prosecutor Courtney J. O’Brien. The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the Florence Township Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Sgt. Shawn McDonough, NJOHSP Detective Sgt. Lauren Laielli, NJOHSP Detective Daniel Connolly and FTPD Detective Matthew Nagle.
“We commend the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the law enforcement partners involved for their outstanding work and close coordination in achieving a successful outcome,” said New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Thomas Hauck. “NJOHSP is proud to partner with BCPO on this investigation and to continue supporting our law enforcement partners as we work to identify and prevent terrorism-related threats statewide.”
2026-05 Juvenile Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Police Officer