Teen In Clown Mask Slashed Bergen County Boy In Face On Halloween: Cops

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A 16-year-old Teaneck boy has been charged with aggravated assault after he slashed a 14-year-old in the face and buttocks outside a store on Halloween night, police said.

Police Chief Andrew McGurr said that just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, police responded to several 911 calls about an incident near the Seasons Express store on Cedar Lane. Police found a 14-year-old boy from Teaneck with a deep laceration to his face and a stab wound to his buttocks. He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for emergency treatment for his non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Witnesses told police that a person "dressed in dark clothing and wearing a Halloween clown mask" was the perpetrator, and that the slashing occurred on the sidewalk of Garrison Avenue, a short distance from the store.

Police notified surrounding agencies.

The Bogota Police department stopped a person matching that description at the intersection of Linden Avenue and West Grove Street in Bogota, police said.

Police said that the suspect, a 16-year-old Teaneck boy, was in possession of a utility knife that was partly covered in blood.

He was taken to Teaneck police headquarters and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

As of Wednesday, police had not determined the motive for the assault, but said that based on a preliminary investigation, "it does not appear that the assault was precipitated by any type of confrontation or problem between the involved persons."

The teen was taken to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Teaneck Police Department at 201-837-2600, or Crime Stoppers. Tips can be left anonymously at www.bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789 any time.