GREENFIELD — The family of Jorge Naranjo, the pizzeria owner stabbed inside his restaurant on April 15, says he returned home from the hospital on Monday to begin his recovery.
“He’s doing all right,” eldest son Javier Naranjo said in an interview at Roberto’s Italian Pizzeria on Federal Street Wednesday. “We’re trying to keep him off his feet for a little while.”
According to police, Jorge Naranjo called 911 at 6:46 p.m. on April 15 to request immediate medical attention after being stabbed by his younger son, Carlos, inside the restaurant. He was found in the kitchen with a significant stab wound to his abdomen and another stab wound to his right arm. He was treated at the scene by medical professionals before being transported to Baystate Franklin Medical Center for further treatment. He was eventually airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Carlos A. Naranjo, 32, was arrested for the attack and is being committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation. He has pleaded not guilty.
Javier Naranjo and his mother, Jorge’s wife Rhina, said they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support since the incident.
“It’s good to know that my dad’s harbored some goodwill,” said Javier, who lives in North Carolina and is back in this area for about a month to help his parents and the pizzeria.
He said the family will try to maintain the restaurant’s regular hours but have to take it day by day.
“It’s an amazing, wonderful community,” said Rhina, who lives with Jorge in Turners Falls and also cares for her elderly mother.
At least two GoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns (gofund.me/2709982ef and tinyurl.com/RobertosGreenfield) have been launched to support Jorge and his recovery. The first was started by Jorge’s niece and goddaughter, Jackeline Rosa-Lewis, while the second is the creation of family friend Jonathan Joon French.
Tim Dowd, owner of Tim’s Barber Shop at 72 Federal St., is raising money to support Jorge with a donation jar on his front counter. He estimated the jar has generated $1,300 in a week.
“[People] have been super supportive,” he said. “Yesterday was probably the sweetest thing that happened. Two kids, they came to downtown, they collected bottles, cans and [found] change on the sidewalk, and they came in and they put it all in here.”
Dowd said many donations have come from people who stopped in without getting a haircut.
“They just simply come in and drop it off,” he said. “It’s been wonderful seeing how many people really are supportive of him.”
Dowd said he has known Jorge for 17 years and described him as a wonderful man.
