Crime & Safety

Dramatic Images Show Chase That Ended In Fatal Stabbing In Medford: Suffolk Prosecutors

District Attorney Ray Tierney says Coram man is "alleged to have targeted this victim with zero regard that he was surrounded by witnesses."

Suffolk prosecutors have released dramatic images, capturing a chase at a busy intersection that ended with the fatal stabbing of a Medford man, in conjunction with the indictment of the man charged in the attack.
Suffolk prosecutors have released dramatic images, capturing a chase at a busy intersection that ended with the fatal stabbing of a Medford man, in conjunction with the indictment of the man charged in the attack. (Suffolk County District Attorney)

RIVERSIDE, NY — Suffolk prosecutors have released dramatic images, capturing a chase at a busy intersection that ended with the fatal stabbing of a Medford man, in conjunction with the indictment of the man charged in the attack.

Joseph Norton, 20, of Coram, was indicted for second-degree murder, for chasing 32-year-old Timothy Stark, who was well-known to local residents, through the intersection at Route 112 in Medford and then stabbing him to death on July 20, District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

Norton has been remanded for the pendency of the case.

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He is due back in court on Sept. 3, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Peter Mayer of Hauppauge, for comment.

Find out what's happening in Medfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The chase and stabbing were captured on surveillance video, dash cameras, and cell phone video, prosecutors said.

The still images from surveillance video show the chase, and then Norton leaving the scene, according to prosecutors.

Tierney thanked Suffolk police "for their swift apprehension" of Norton, who is "alleged to have targeted this victim with zero regard that he was surrounded by witnesses."

“Brutal violence as is alleged here has no place in Suffolk County," he added.

At around 3:35 p.m. on July 20, Norton was driving his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche on Route 112 in Medford when he came to a stop at a traffic light near Stark, made a U-turn, parked his vehicle under an overpass, and then chased him across the intersection and through heavy traffic, while
repeatedly attempting to stab him, prosecutors said.

Norton then pushed Stark’s head toward the
ground and stabbed him in the back once before he collapsed in the roadway, according to prosecutors.

Stark was later pronounced dead at NYU Langone – Suffolk Hospital in East Patchogue, prosecutors said.

Norton ran back to his vehicle and sped away from the scene, but was arrested shortly after in Yaphank by police officers, who found a knife from underneath the driver’s seat, with what appeared to be blood on it, according to prosecutors.

This story will be updated. Check back later.

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