Suspect Arrested in Friday Night Stabbing

Story Updated 1:40PM Friday, October 12, 2007

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford Police announced this afternoon that Ricardo J. Pierre, a 17-year-old Medford High School student, has been charged in connection with a stabbing that took place after the football game at Hormel Stadium last Friday night.

According to Lieutenant Paul Covino, Pierre is charged with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a knife).

Pierre was arrested without incident at his Farragut Avenue home Wednesday night and was taken into custody by Detective Sgt. Michael Fahey and Detective Stephen LeBert.

According to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office, Pierre was released after his Thursday arraignment on the conditions that he does not carry any weapons or firearms, has no contact with the victim, maintains a work or school program, reports to probation once a week, and does not commit any crimes.

Pierre will be back in court on November 8 for a probable cause hearing.

Covino said the arrest followed “many painstaking hours” of tracking down and interviewing witnesses that led to Det. Sgt. Fahey and Det. Trish Sullivan receiving a warrant for Pierre’s arrest.

The victim, a Medford High School student that recently moved to Medford, was treated and released several hours after being stabbed on the side of his chest.

The stabbing followed a fight that erupted between two Medford youths that had been watching the games with their friends. Police say one group of teens had been antagonizing an individual during the game. A fight broke out between that individual and another boy when the game ended and everyone was leaving the stadium.

School Superintendent Roy Belson said security was stepped up at the high school this week following the incident. Belson said he had no reason to believe more security than the usual police detail and high school security officers would be needed at Friday night’s home game against Austin Prep.