One arrested following a stabbing in Westerly parking lot
By Josh Faiola
Email: news@abc6.com
Twitter: @ABC6
WESTERLY, R.I (WLNE) – A suspect is charged with felony assault following a stabbing on Monday afternoon.
Members of the Westerly Police Department responded to a Home Depot parking lot at 5:18 p.m for a reported stabbing, with the suspect leaving the area.
Police say as they arrived, they found a male victim, now identified as 25-year-old Pawcatuck CT resident, Jonathan Moore, with a puncture wound in his upper left chest area.
That’s when Westerly Ambulance personnel arrived on the scene and began treating Moore.
According to the department, immediately following the incident, a Westerly officer spotted the suspected vehicle turning onto the Airport Road, in which a car stop was conducted.
The operator of the vehicle, 51-year-old Westerly resident, Joseph Barrese was identified as the suspect involved.
Barrese was detained and check for operating under the influence, as well as questioned regarding the stabbing.
Police say both the Moore and Barrese are co-workers who were attending a Christmas Party for work at the Hill Top Cafe in Westerly when the two had gotten into a verbal altercation.
The argument continued after both of them left the party and began texting each other.
Barrese then showed up to Moore’s residence in Pawcatuck CT, looking for him.
According to Police, Moore said he was going to Home Depot, in which Barrese followed him in the parking lot, where the argument continued to escalate.
The department says during the argument, Moore indicated he was stabbed in the chest by Barrese, then fled in his vehicle, at which time police were called.
Barrese is charged with felony assault, disorderly conduct, DUI, refusal to submit to a chemical test, and possession of marijuana.
He was held overnight at the station and transported to court on Tuesday morning for arraignment.
Moore is currently in fair condition at Rhode Island Hospital for the stab wound to his chest and damaged lung, and is expected to make a positive recovery.
©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019
