By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Manville police are investigating the April 9 stabbing of a 19-year-old resident, but are not releasing his identity because of concerns for his safety.
Police are unsure if the victim was targeted for the crime or whether it was a random incident, and do not want to put him in danger by releasing his name, they said.
”Until we know more, we don’t want to release his name,” Manville police Detective William Yankoski said.
Police reported receiving a call from county 911 communications center at 9:47 p.m. about a male who was stabbed several times near South Reading Street. In addition to Manville police, the Somerset County sheriff, the Manville Rescue Squad, and the Somerset Medical Center Emergency Medical Services reported to the scene.
The victim was transported to Somerset Medical Center for treatment of three nonlife threatening stab wounds, two in his right shoulder and one on his right forearm, and was released later that evening, police said. Police could not release the location of the wounds or the weapon used to inflict them, citing the ongoing investigation.
The victim described the perpetrators as six or seven Hispanic juveniles, wearing dark-colored bandanas over their faces. Police did not confirm whether the stabbing was gang-related.
”It’s definitely an angle we’re looking at, but it’s still open to investigation,” Detective Yankoski said. “We’re still looking at a lot of different possibilities.”

