Florence residents told to stay inside as manhunt continues for ‘dangerous’ stabbing suspect

FLORENCE — On Wednesday evening, local police told residents who live in the area of Hornberger Avenue/Route 130 and Norman Avenue to keep their doors locked and stay inside as they continue the search for suspect who they say is "armed and dangerous."

Police issued a Nixle alert at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, telling residents of the Trenton suburb to call 911 if they spot the suspect, who was identified as Akil Herbert. According to authorities, Herbert is wanted in connection with a stabbing that took place Wednesday.

Police say they responded to the 200 block of 5th Avenue for a report of a female who was stabbed. Arriving officers found the victim with several stab wounds. She was given medical attention at the scene and then transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, police said in a statement on Facebook.

"While Officers were on location several witnesses identified the suspect and direction that he ran from the scene," police said.

Police established a perimeter around the area where Herbert was last seen and also called in a NJ State Police aviation unit and K-9 unit to assist with the search, along with local police.

Police say the victim and Herbert knew each other and they "have no reason to believe this was a random act." As of about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, the suspect had not been located.

Herbert's criminal record includes several violent run-ins with police officers. He was charged in 2006 with aggravated assault on a cop and convicted in 2010 on another aggravated assault on police in 2009. For that conviction on a fourth-degree charge, he was sentenced to five years of probation after copping a plea deal and serving 69 days in jail.

His record also includes arrests in 2006 and 2009 for illegal weapons possession, resisting arrest. He was convicted of a 2005 weapons charge and spent three years in jail.

Herbert is described as a black male, 6 feet, 4 inches, 250 lbs. with braided hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black shorts and sneakers.

"If you see Akil Herbert do not approach him," police said. "Please exercise caution as he should be considered armed and dangerous. Contact 911 immediately."

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.