(UPDATE + NEW VIDEO!) Man Tried to Slit Another’s Throat at TGI Fridays

HYANNIS- Shortly before midnight multiple police units responded to TGI Fridays at the Cape Cod Mall for a stabbing.

The victim was in the kitchen area with 3 stab wounds, one to the front side just below the chest area, another to the mid-back close to the lungs, and another was a defensive laceration to the hand as the victim tried to protect his throat.

Hyannis Rescue responded and treated the victim inside the kitchen area before transporting him to Cape Cod Hospital.  The victim was a young white male and sources at the scene report that one of the wounds came dangerously close to, if not punctured, one of his lungs.  At the time of this report a hospital representative confirmed that the victim was “stable.”  A police representative also mentioned that he was able to sit up and was currently talking to investigators as they were working on their suspect.  At 3:30 investigators informed Hyannis News that although the victim is currently stable, he's very lucky to be alive, as he's suffering from very deep puncture wounds, one puncturing his lung, another puncturing organs in the abdomen area.

Police have a good idea who the suspect is, and are currently searching for a black male from South Dennis, who several witnesses at the scene referred to as being called the nickname “Jewels.”  The lead suspect is said to be about 5’ 8” tall, and has a slim build.  (Hyannis News is currently withholding his full name…).

At 12:55, about one hour into the case, Barnstable Patrolman Peter Myrbeck was searching for evidence when he sharply “picked out a needle in a haystack” by noticing something in the dirt and weeds at the edge of the Sears Automotive parking area.  Upon closer inspection he noticed that it was a hunting knife and very likely the weapon used in the stabbing.  Barnstable County Identification Officer Bill Jaques was called to the scene to document, photograph, collect, and process the knife.

Meanwhile K-9 Officer Troy Perry and his tracking dog Ali were following a trail that led them to the nearby Fresh Holes Road neighborhood.  While in the Fresh Holes Road area additional police cruisers needed to be called in as some of the residents became very angry and briefly began to interfere with police as the track ended very close to their residence. Officers arrived and stood by until Officer Perry and Ali finished their investigation.

Back at the Cape Cod Hospital emergency room, the primary officer on the case, Patrolman Dan Ruth was interviewing witnesses and talking with the victim.  The lead investigator in the case, Detective Ed Scipione was also on scene with a photograph line-up of the suspects.

Sometime after 2:00pm Sergeant Ben Baxter located a red Champion sweatshirt possibly belonging to the suspect nearby on Route 132.  It had blood stains consistent with a facial injury and Sergeant Baxter confirmed over the radio that suspect may have been scratched or cut during the stabbing.  The sweatshirt was collected as evidence and brought back to Cape Cod Hospital to see if one of the witnesses could identify it.

The crime is under investigation by Barnstable Police.  They have strong leads and will likely be making an arrest very soon.