The victim and suspect were among a group hanging out in front of MnM Foods on the 1400 block of South Clinton Avenue.
A Trenton police cruiser stands guard in the rear garage of a home on the 1000 block of South Clinton Avenue. The victim and suspect were among a group hanging out in front of MnM Foods on the 1400 block of South Clinton Avenue, periodically going inside the store throughout the late afternoon and early evening, Lt. Mark Kieffer said today.
For some reason, at around 6:15 p.m. the suspect attacked the 30-year-old victim at the store’s entrance.
“The suspect comes in the store and pulls out a machete from under his clothing,” Kieffer said. “The suspect slashed the victim a couple times by the door, causing his injuries.”
Afterward the suspect and the others standing outside the door fled in different directions, police said. The victim received a ride from a good Samaritan and was taken to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment. Medical staff there found the victim had been cut on his arms, chest and back, Kieffer said.
Doctors initially feared the man’s wounds were life-threatening, and he was transferred to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for emergency surgery. The surgery was successful and the man’s condition was upgraded, police said. The victim is now expected to survive.
Police are seeking a Hispanic male suspect described as being in his early 20s, with a thin build, a chin strap beard, and a Miami Heat baseball-style cap, a machete, a white T-shirt and blue jean shorts.
The case is under investigation, but no arrests have been made. Anyone with information on this crime should call police at (609) 989-4170, or the Confidential Tip Line at (609) 989-3663.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.
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