NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. - The Worcester County District Attorney's office is investigating a deadly stabbing in Northbridge.
DA Joseph Early, Jr. says the call came in to local police around 9:30 Friday night for multiple stabbings on the town common. Early says police responded to what he described as a "chaotic" scene, with several people on the common and two people were suffering stab wounds. Both were transported to the hospital where one, a 20-year-old male, was pronounced dead. The other, a 17-year-old male, was in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
The DA says the stabbing was an isolated incident.
"We have a suspect in custody at this time," Early said. "He is a juvenile. Due to that, due to Massachusetts general laws, we cannot release his identity. Again, it's early in the investigation, but what we also learned was that the parties did know each other."
Early says there's evidence to show some on the common had b-b guns which looked similar to real firearms. The town's police chief, Timothy Labrie says, incidents on the common are not uncommon. After this incident, he expects a higher police presence in the area.
"We've had, you know, your typical acts of vandalism, moving kids along, etc., but not to this extent," said Labrie. "Well, actually, the common is posted no trespassing after 9 p.m. So that measures taken. It's just a matter of stepping up patrols when patrol allows."
Early says the suspect is scheduled to be arraigned. He's facing charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, with the expectation of them being upgraded.