School officials were notified of the attack just after 8:30 a.m. when students had already arrived for the start of the school day, Byron said. The school is about a mile from the crime scene.
School officials were notified of the attack just after 8:30 a.m. when students had already arrived for the start of the school day, Byron said. The school is about a mile from the crime scene. CHESTERFIELD—After a stabbing by a suspected burglar in a nearby resident's garage prompted a lockdown at Chesterfield Elementary School this morning, students were dismissed on time and escorted home by police, public works officials and family members, Superintendent Leigh Byron said.
“It was a real showing of care and safety for the kids,” Byron said of the 3:15 p.m. dismissal. “With the exception of not going out for recess, I don’t think the kids knew the difference. It was a regular day.”
The victim, described as an adult male in his early 40s, was stabbed in the abdomen around 8:30 a.m. when he was confronted by an alleged burglar in his garage on the 100 block of Galestown Circle, the Chesterfield Police Department said in a statement.
The school is on Saddle Way, about a mile from the crime scene.
“The victim arrived back home after dropping off his children at the bus stop,” the statement said. “Upon arrival, he was confronted by a subject in his garage.”
The suspect, described as a white or Hispanic male about 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with a beard, ran off on foot after the attack and has not been located, the statement said. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, it said.
School officials were notified of the attack just after 8:30 a.m. when students had already arrived for the start of the school day, Byron said.
About half of the students at the school—350—are walkers and all were picked up by family members at the end of the school day, Byron said. The rest of the students rode home on buses followed by police and public works officials, he said.
“We didn’t let any kid walk home. Police were on the perimeter of the school, and no one was unescorted,” Byron said. “It was an impressive showing.”
The stabbing victim was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. He is listed in stable condition with a non-life-threatening stab wound, the statement said.
The incident signaled a search of the area involving officers and police dogs from Chesterfield, Bordentown and Pemberton townships.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Chesterfield police at (609) 291-0912 or Burlington County Central Communications at (609) 723-8300.
Contact Nicole Mulvaney at nmulvaney@njtimes.com.
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