Stabbing Victim Testifies He Was Trying to Protect Others

By Lauren Andreala - October 4, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld’s courtroom heard opening statements and testimony from a stabbing victim on Oct. 2.

Jose Garcia Fuentes, 43, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and simple assault for his alleged role in a stabbing incident that transpired on April 24 on the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW. One person sustained cuts to the hand and face.

According to court documents, an individual identified as Fuentes entered a restaurant and started an unprovoked fight with another patron. After the suspect kicked the patron, the victim, who was the owner of the establishment, stepped in to defuse the situation. As events unfolded, the suspect produced a knife and allegedly slashed the victim’s face and hand. After a struggle, the suspect escaped.

During opening statements; the prosecution argued that the victim was trying to protect his customers from the defendant who posed a threat after assaulting a customer. Furthermore, the prosecution stated they will bring in different officers and witnesses to testify, who will prove the defendant’s guilt.

Henry Escoto, Garcia Fuentes’ attorney, argued that the prosecution has this case backwards, and Garcia used self-defense to protect himself from the victim who used brute force to kick him out the restaurant.

Following opening statements, the prosecution called on the victim of the stabbing incident. The victim explained he had never seen Garcia in his restaurant before, and wanted to escort him out to protect his customers as he was becoming aggressive. Additionally, he was able to allegedly dentify Fuenetes in court.

Some of the customers, alongside the victim, helped push Garcia out of the building, which led to a physical altercation where Garcia pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the eyebrow, and in the right hand, the victim testified. He added that he never made any threats or said anything threatening to Garcia before this incident occurred.

During cross-examination, Escoto showed different exhibits of surveillance footage from inside the restaurant, and questioned the victim on whether or not he was working or drinking during the time of the incident. Additionally, he questioned whether or not the victim made threats or physically forced Garcia out of the building after the first incident.

Parties will continue proceedings on Oct. 3