A Ventnor man accused in the brutal stabbing of a contractor last month was ordered held during a detention hearing Wednesday.
Johnny Flores, 35, allegedly laid in wait for the 59-year-old Galloway Township man, who was working on an apartment in the building at 11 S. Nashville on July 15.
While Flores allegedly yelled things at the victim that including, "You killed my brother!" the two men were strangers, according to information given in court.
"If I had a machete, I would have chopped him up right there," Flores allegedly told police after the attack inside the apartment building where he lives. "It would have been quicker."
Surveillance video captured Flores stabbing the unnamed victim at least 10 times, including twice in the jugular, according to the charges. Flores then grabbed the victim by the neck and choked him for an extended period of time.
Flores appeared at his detention hearing via video from the Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton, where he is being held on a commitment order signed by Cumberland County.
That is connected to a 2016 case in which Flores attacked two police officers responding to his mother's Vineland home.
Flores was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed Officer John Warrington in the face and head during a fight, according to the charges reported by Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae at the time.
Another officer also was attacked, but was treated and released. The stabbing led to Warrington's retirement, according to a since-dismissed civil suit he filed against Flores and his mother in 2021.
BreakingAC previously reported the older case, which showed up in the court record as being dismissed on the municipal level without explanation.
That was clarified during Wednesday's detention hearing, when Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Campellone told the judge that Flores was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2018, and given probation.
It still remained unclear why there was no commitment to any facility at that time.
Judge Jorge Coombs started the hearing by asking Flores if he understood his rights, to which the defendant replied, "No."
His public defender, Hunter Hurst, agreed to proceed regardless, telling the judge: "I expect evidence to be placed on the record regarding his competency and previous cases that also involve his mental health status."
Hurst said there was no need for Coombs to detain Flores, since he is unable to leave the facility where he is currently committed.
Flores "admitted to officers he has not been taking his medication" for an undisclosed mental health diagnoses, Hurst told the judge. At the facility, he could be supervised.
Coombs disagreed, finding that the case already has a presumption of detention.
Flores is next due in court Sept. 10 before Coombs..
The victim has been released from the hospital, a family member told BreakingAC.
A GoFundMe waa previously set up help him.
"I hope justice is served," said the woman, who asked not to be identified to protect the victim's identity. "They should have never released him when he attacked the two officers in Vineland. He clearly is a danger to the community.
"Children wait for the school bus steps away from where this individual lived. It could have happened to anyone," she continued. "No one deserved to go through what our family went through these past three weeks. We almost lost our family member."
