Hollidaysburg man accused in stabbing incident
Smith facing attempted homicide charges
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A Hollidaysburg man faces an attempted homicide charge after allegedly stabbing another man during an altercation Monday night in Altoona.
Christopher James Smith, 20, was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on felony counts of attempted criminal homicide, attempts to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference and aggravated assault, along with misdemeanor charges of simple assault, possession of a weapon, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct, as well as a summary count of harassment.
Smith, accompanied by a 17-year-old juvenile friend, was riding his bicycle along Sixth Avenue from the Hollidaysburg area toward Altoona to visit an ex-girlfriend along the 1000 block of Fourth Avenue about 8:36 p.m. Monday.
Along the way, Smith allegedly got into a verbal argument with another individual, the police report states.
Smith and the juvenile walked into an alley, with the juvenile ahead of Smith, when Smith stopped in the alley near the 1000 black of Third Avenue alley. The victim, who resided along that block, was watching Smith due to his suspicious behavior. Smith asked the victim "what," to which the victim told Smith he was on private property, the report stated.
When Smith replied with a derogatory comment, the victim told him to "keep moving along." The pair argued before Smith swung at the victim, grazing him on the chin. Smith then began to walk away, but came back at the victim, who put Smith in a headlock. They fell to the ground and Smith pulled a nearly 6-inch knife and stabbed the victim once in the right side of his chest, the report states. The victim's partner separated the men.
When the witness told Smith she was calling the police, Smith and the juvenile fled on foot toward Third Avenue, police reported.
The victim was transported to the UPMC Altoona Trauma Center, where a doctor reported his stab wound to be about 4 inches deep in the center-right side of his chest. The injury was "life-threatening, but stable," the doctor reported. The victim had a chest tube placed in the right chest area due to a partially collapsed lung, the report stated.
In an interview, the juvenile told officers the physical fight lasted "only a few seconds" before a female intervened. He and Smith then went to the Sheetz, 1701 Seventh Ave. The juvenile told officers he took the knife used in the stabbing from Smith earlier on Monday because Smith "didn't need that big of a knife" and Smith "does not have the best mindset, and that he has anger issues," the report states
After being taken into custody, Altoona police searched Smith and found a pair of black gloves, a black mask in a fanny bag and a leather sheath that was attached to Smith's belt. Inside the sheath was a knife with blood splatter on the blade, according to the affidavit.
Officers reported Smith giving multiple inconsistent statements during an interview. Smith was also unable to explain how he managed to stab the victim in the chest when he said he only stabbed at the victim's hands, the report stated.
Smith was seen on security footage wearing black gloves with a black shirt over his shoulder and a ski mask on his head, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Smith was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail, where he awaits a preliminary hearing in front of DeAntonio on Aug. 13.