Lawrence Teen Suffers Spleen Injury in Football Attack

A 14-year-old Lawrence Township boy was hospitalized last week with a lacerated spleen after he was allegedly assaulted by a younger boy during a neighborhood football game, according to police.

The alleged assault took place about 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, during an after-school football game in the 100 block of Johnson Avenue, said Lt. Charles Edgar, township police department spokesman.

The victim caught a pass and successfully shook off the tackle of a 12-year-old  boy, also a township resident, Edgar said. He said the younger boy ended up on the ground, prompting the other players to laugh at him.

The 12-year-old, upset by the laughter, got up from the ground, picked up the 14-year-old and allegedly slammed him to the ground, Edgar said.

The 14-year-old, complaining of internal pain, went to a friend’s house nearby and the friend’s parents called for an ambulance, Edgar said. He said the boy was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered a slight laceration to his spleen.

The 14-year-old’s parents called police to report the incident about 9 a.m. the next day, Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Because of the severity of the boy’s injury, police launched an aggravated assault investigation which is being conducted by Detective Scott Caloiaro, Edgar said.