WESTFIELD — A Huntington man accused of walking into a barbershop on the morning of Nov. 21 and stabbing a man multiple times was arrested for attempted murder a few hours later at his home.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Jose D. Alvarado, 48, of Maple Street, was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury and mayhem, according to the court records.
The victim, who was stabbed once on each arm and on his back, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
At about 11:20 a.m. on Nov. 21, Alvarado entered The Gaslight Barbers, located at 37 Elm St., approached the victim, who was getting his hair cut, pulled a knife out of his pocket, and stabbed him before putting the weapon back in his pocket and leaving, according to witnesses and an investigative report prepared by Detective Andrew Cekovsky.
The victim told police that he recognized Alvarado but couldn’t remember his name, which was confirmed by a witness who told officers the victim appeared to know him.
Immediately after the incident, investigators secured a security camera recording of Alvarado leaving, and he matched the description given by those who saw the attack and him leaving, according to the investigative report.
A statement issued by the Police Department about three hours after the incident said the victim was “targeted” by Alvarado, and it was not a random act of violence.
“At no time was the public believed to be in danger, as this appears to have been an isolated incident,” police said in the statement.
After the attack, Alvarado called two individuals referred to in the report as witnesses, who told him he needed some help.
“Jose talked to Witness 10 and stated that he shanked [the victim] up,” according to the investigative report.
The witness that was told by Alvarado that he had stabbed the man called the police and identified him and the vehicle he was driving, according to the report.
The security camera had also recorded the license plate of the vehicle, a small SUV, which came back with Alvarado as the owner and his address in Huntington. Troopers with the State Police went to the Maple Street address. He was there.
Aside from the jacket he wore during the attack, Alvarado was wearing the same clothes described by witnesses, according to the report.
The troopers reported Alvarado had a cut on his left thumb, which was consistent with being made by a sharp knife, according to the report.
Alvarado told the police he knew why they were there and put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed.
When investigators looked at the inside of the SUV — without opening the door — they could see at least two knives and a napkin that appeared to have blood on it, according to the report.
When arraigned on the three charges on Nov. 24 in Westfield District Court, Alvarado, through a court-appointed attorney, pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
A licensed psychologist told the judge during the arraignment that after speaking with Alvarado, he needed to be evaluated at the Bridgewater State Hospital. District Court Judge Tina Cafaro agreed and ordered the evaluation.
She also ordered him held without bail, pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Dec. 15.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming, police said in the statement.
