Pocono News Section

New Year's Eve Stabbing in Scranton

New Year's Eve Stabbing in Scranton - Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 2:25PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Thursday, Jan 1, 2009 @ 02:25pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- People who live in Bangor Heights told us they're in shock, after finding out their neighbor stabbed another man late on New Year's Eve.

Police say Jose Vazquez and his girlfriend, who's physically handicapped, invited her home nurse and her husband, Patrick O'Neill, over for New Year's Eve. Vazquez allegedly yelled at and pushed O'Neill's wife. Then, the men got into a fistfight that poured into the streets. Police say it ended when Vazquez stabbed O'Neill in the stomach.

"It's just a shame. A lot of people know how and respect him. He's not a troublemaker," said one neighbor. "It troubles me to know there's people that do that stuff around here.

O'Neill's wife told police they had a couple drinks, but says Vazquez wasn't in the right state of mind when the argument started. She didn't even know her husband was stabbed until her son told her when they got in the car. She drove him to the hospital. Police say O'Neill's stab wound was six inches long and six inches deep.

Vazquez's girlfriend told us she's upset the argument turned violent, and she hopes the incident won't mean she loses her apartment.

"We all hope and pray that everyone gets better and he gets the treatment that he needs," said the neighbor.

Vazquez is behind bars and faces aggravated assault and other charges.

As of Thursday afternoon, O'Neill was in intensive care at Mercy Hospital.