Fugitive charged with attempted homicide caught in NJ woods

Nahuan Tejada was arrested weeks after a violent roadside attack in Hopewell Township.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:04pm

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A 39-year-old man charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and other charges was arrested in the woods near the Raritan River in New Brunswick, over 20 miles away from the original crime scene in Hopewell Township, Mercer County. Nahuan Tejada had fled the scene of a stabbing on Bear Tavern Road in February and was on the run for weeks before being apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down violent suspects who flee crime scenes, as well as the importance of multi-agency cooperation and the use of specialized task forces to locate and apprehend dangerous fugitives before they can harm anyone else.

The details

On February 25, Hopewell Township police responded to a call about a fight involving an edged weapon on Bear Tavern Road. They found a male victim who had been hospitalized, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Nahuan Tejada. Tejada fled the scene towards New Brunswick. Weeks later, on March 13, the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Tejada in the woods near the Raritan River in New Brunswick, over 20 miles away from the original crime scene.

  • On February 25, Hopewell Township police responded to the stabbing incident on Bear Tavern Road.
  • On March 13, Nahuan Tejada was arrested in the woods near the Raritan River in New Brunswick.

The players

Nahuan Tejada

A 39-year-old man charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and other charges related to a violent roadside attack in Hopewell Township.

U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force

A specialized law enforcement task force that located and apprehended Nahuan Tejada weeks after he fled the original crime scene.

Hopewell Township Police

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the initial stabbing incident and issued a warrant for Nahuan Tejada's arrest.

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What they’re saying

“Our task force members moved fast to locate and bring Tejada into custody before he could harm anyone else. Let this serve as a reminder that if you commit this kind of violence in our communities, we will find you.”

— Nicholas Ricigliano, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey

What’s next

Nahuan Tejada is currently being held at the Mercer County jail and will face charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault by auto, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of effective coordination between local law enforcement and specialized task forces in tracking down and apprehending violent suspects who flee crime scenes. It also highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in addressing issues of public safety and violent crime.