*** AUDIO *** SHOOTING SUSPECT IN CUSTODY AFTER THURSDAY MORNING...

HN FILE PHOTO: Two Barnstable Police patrolmen escort Eric Randall toward one of their squad cars in September of 2022. Randall was under arrest for motor vehicle charges. Randall is no stranger to local police…

UPDATE FROM THE BARNSTABLE POLICE:

Press Release
July 26, 2024

23-Year-Old Hyannis Man and 34-Year-Old Cotuit Man Arrested On Kidnapping, Firearms, and Assault Charges.

At approximately 7:00am on Thursday July 25, 2024 Barnstable Police Officers were dispatched to Quaker Road Hyannis for a subject who was suffering from apparent stab wounds. Upon investigation by Barnstable Patrol Officers and Detectives it was determined that the 49-year-old victim had been held against his will and assaulted in a house on Quaker Road. He reported that two individuals, known to him as 23-year-old Eric Randall of Hyannis and 34-year-old Richard Villa of Cotuit had assaulted him inside the home. The victim told investigators that Randall and Villa had trapped him within the home, choked him with a belt, held him at gunpoint, and eventually stabbed him with a knife. The subjects threatened the victim’s life throughout the incident. The victim was eventually able to flee the scene and have a neighbor call 911. The victim was treated at a local hospital for the non-life-threatening injuries. Villa was located in the area a short time later and taken into custody without incident. Randall was located later in the afternoon, however when approached he attempted to flee. After a brief foot pursuit, he was taken into custody by Barnstable Patrol Officers, Detectives, as well as members of the DEA Cape Cod Resident Office. Investigators seized a knife and a loaded 9mm “ghost” gun in connection with this incident.

Randall and Villa were both transported to the Barnstable Police Department where Villa was charged with kidnapping while armed with a firearm, strangulation or suffocation, assault to murder while armed, assault and battery with dangerous weapon, and threat to commit a crime. Randall was charged with kidnapping while armed with a firearm, possess firearm without FID, carrying loaded firearm without license, assault and battery dangerous weapon, assault with dangerous weapon, assault to murder while armed firearm, threat to commit a crime, resisting arrest and malicious destruction of property due to damage he caused to the police cruiser during his transport.

Additionally, Randall was wanted in connection with an incident on Moco Road West Barnstable that occurred on Wednesday July 24, 2024. During that incident Randall allegedly assaulted an occupant in the home while brandishing a firearm. Based on that investigation Randall was also charged with assault in a dwelling while armed with a firearm and assault and battery.

Villa was arraigned at Barnstable District Court on Thursday July 25, 2024 and was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday July 29, 2024. Randall was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday July 26, 2024.

INITIAL HN REPORT & AUDIO/VIDEO

HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – [HN AUDIO NOTES] – [DEVELOPING] – As you will hear in the following HN AUDIO, around 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning – Thursday, July 25, 2024 – Barnstable Police patrol officers responded to Quaker Road for a report of somebody bleeding. Officers arrived on scene and found a man with a stab wound. The man was transported to Cape Cod Hospital by a Hyannis FD ambulance.

Officers developed two suspects related to the stabbing, according to a police source. Richard Villa, (in his mid-thirties), of Hyannis was arrested near the scene. Eric Randall, of Hyannis, who had already fled the scene was also wanted in connection to the stabbing. Eric Randall was also wanted for a Tuesday evening shooting at a residence on Moco Road in West Barnstable. CLICK HERE for HN’s initial coverage and video entitled, *** WATCH *** AN EVENING OF VIOLENCE: GUNSHOTS, ASSAULTS, KNUCKLEHEADS ON THE LOOSE…

As you will hear in the following HN AUDIO, officers put out a description of Randall and began searching the area.

Meanwhile, the scene of the stabbing at 98 Quaker Road was secured by patrol officers until BPD detectives could arrive with a search warrant.

A while later, Eric Randall was spotted in the area of the AM-PM Convenience store on Bearses Way. As you will hear, officers were attempting to apprehend Randall when he suddenly led them on a foot chase.

(Note: the BPD is reportedly working on a more detailed press release…)

Randall was eventually taken into custody near the convenience store.

Fearing that Randall had possibly discarded a firearm during the chase, police conducted an intensive search behind the store and nearby backyards. Two K9 units and a number of patrol officers assisted in the search, which was inconclusive, according to a police source.

While transporting Randall back to BPD Headquarters for booking, officers informed dispatch that he was being extremely volatile. At some point during the booking process, a decision was made to transport Randall to Cape Cod Hospital. Hyannis FD reportedly determined that Randall was “not safe enough” to be transported inside one of their ambulances, according to BPD radio transmissions. Randall was then loaded into a BPD cruiser to be transported to CCH. During the drive, Randall’s volatile behavior continued, causing officers to pull over at one point, according to radio transmissions. In the end, Randall was successfully transported to CCH.

According to a police source, investigators recovered a firearm at 98 Quaker Road during their search. It’s uncertain whether the recovered firearm is the same one allegedly used on Tuesday evening at the West Barnstable address.

The following HN video contains AUDIO highlights of Thursday morning’s stabbing investigation, along with the foot chase and capture of Eric Randall. [DEVELOPING]

The BPD is reportedly working on a press release and HN will provide official, updated details as they become available.

[HN AUDIO/VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Andy Williams… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]

* The initial details contained in the above report are based on police radio transmissions and information on scene. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.