Police search for stabbing suspect

OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly stabbed an attendant at a local gas station in a robbery attempt this week.

On Oct. 6, at approximately 12:54 a.m., township police received a 911 call in reference to a robbery at the Hess Express gas station on Route 35.

Ocean Township police officers Trevor Dickerson and Mark Powoski arrived on the scene and found the employee, a 59- year-old male from Ocean Township, with a stab wound to his stomach, according to police reports.

Further investigation by police revealed that the injured employee, who was working inside of the gas station convenience store, heard a commotion outside the store that involved another employee who was working at the time.

The attendant went outside to see what was going on and found the other employee face down on the ground being robbed by an unknown subject, according to reports.

The attendant approached the two and attempted to interrupt the robbery by grabbing at the assailant. At that time, the assailant turned toward the attendant and stabbed him once in the stomach.

The injured attendant attempted to grab the knife from the assailant, but was unsuccessful and suffered a laceration to his hand, authorities said.

The suspect then fled on foot across Route 35, while the injured attendant called police.

A K-9 unit from the Long Branch Police Department was called in to assist in locating the suspect, but was unsuccessful, authorities said.

The injured attendant was taken to Jersey Shore Trauma Unit by the Oakhurst First Aid Squad, where he was listed in stable condition. The other employee was not injured.

The suspect is described as a lightskinned black or Hispanic male, approximately 30-40 years of age with a somewhat stocky build.

He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark colored pants and fled in a westerly direction toward the Twinbrook Apartment complex.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact Ocean Township Detective Sgt. Thomas Burke at 732-531-1800.