Teen Attacked At Morristown Train Station Still Recovering; Fundraiser Benefits Family

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown High School student is still recovering from a broken jaw and other injuries following an attack at the Morristown train station last month.

In response, a family member has launched a fundraiser to help cover the mounting hospital bills.

According to his aunt, Stephany Vargas, the teen was waiting at the station to catch a train to New York City on Jan. 12 when a stranger approached him and punched him in the back of the head.

The punch knocked the student unconscious, causing him to fall face-first onto the concrete platform. He sustained a concussion, multiple fractures to his head, including his jaw and orbital bones, as well as facial lacerations that required several stitches.

"This has been a very traumatic experience for David and our entire family. The first few hours after the attack were very scary as David was in and out of consciousness, and we did not know how bad the damage would be," Vargas said.

After the attack, David was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received treatment for his severe injuries and underwent surgery shortly after his arrival.

"Due to the urgency and unexpected manner of the situation, his family did not have time to shop around for in network providers and services and so the cost of surgeons, specialists, emergency room services and providers, as well as many other hospital and medical bills most of whom were out of network has already become unbearable," Vargas wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Morristown police have not released additional details about the Jan. 12, 2025, attack. However, a report from the MorristownGreen said that 35-year-old Wardell F. Corbin of Morristown was arrested the following day on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and other alleged offenses.

David, a senior at Morristown High School, is described by his aunt as a "fun and friendly guy" with dreams of becoming an architect and working in New York City.

An online fundraising page for David's family has raised more than $19,000 as of Wednesday morning. More than 200 people have donated so far.