Crime & Safety
Summit Youth Stabbed in Gas Station Altercation
The youth, who had been in a verbal beef with a gas station employee, is in critical condition at Morristown Memorial Hospital Trauma Center.
A 15-year-old Summit youth was stabbed during an altercation at the Brookside Exxon gas station on 35 Summit Avenue at 6:24 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Summit Police Lieutenant and Detective Bureau Commander Steven Zagorski said today that the incident occurred after the youth exchanged words with Ryan Zahn, a gas station employee.
“The youth and Zahn have had an exchange of words for a couple of weeks now, “ Zagorski said. “I guess it came to a head (on Thursday).”
Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to witness accounts, the youth and Zahn became involved in a physical altercation on Thursday evening, at which time Zahn brandished a knife and stabbed the youth in the abdomen.
The injured youth fled on foot toward Walnut Street where he met a group of friends and told them of the incident. One of these individuals rushed the injured youth to the ER at Overlook Medical Center.
Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shortly afterward, of the youth’s friends, Kirsten “Kurt” Crawford and another unidentified male, went to the gas station to confront Zahn. According to witness reports, Crawford proceeded to assault Zahn, repeatedly punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground before fleeing the scene.
Police arrested Crawford, age 22 on third degree aggravated assault. Zahn was arrested on second degree aggravated assault and possession of a weapon (knife) for unlawful use.
Crawford was remanded in Union County jail in default of $35,000 bail. Zahn was taken to Overlook Medical Center for treatment and later released after posting $35,000 bail.
In April, Summit Police raided the home of then 21-year-old Crawford and after a three-week-long investigation into alleged distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
The 15- year-old victim was initially treated at Overlook Medical Center. After Overlook staff subsequently upgraded his condition from moderate to critical, he was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital Trauma Center where he remains in critical condition.
The Summit Police are seeking additional witnesses to this incident. Anyone having pertinent information should contact Lt. Steven Zagorski, Detective Bureau Commander, at 908-277-9400.
