ORANGE — An Orange man faces a slew of charges after allegedly entering the home of a 71-year-old woman Monday afternoon and repeatedly stabbing and punching her before being fended off by the victim’s grandson.
James Gonzalez, 29, of Prentiss Street, is to be arraigned in Orange District Court for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60, assault to murder while armed on a person over 60, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery on a person over 60 and disabled.
According to Orange Police Chief James Sullivan, Gonzalez’s motive is unclear, but investigators believe the assault was a targeted attack and that there is no danger to the public at this time.
Officers responded to Sunset Drive for a reported stabbing at 3:40 p.m. on Monday and found two injured people. Through the initial investigation conducted by Orange Police officers and State Police detectives assigned to the Northwest District Attorney’s Office, it was learned that Gonzalez had entered the woman’s home, allegedly stabbing and punching her.
According to Sullivan, the attack continued until the woman’s 15-year-old grandson managed to fight off Gonzalez and get him out of the home.
Gonzalez, whose hand was injured in the fight, was immediately arrested and taken to Athol Hospital by the Orange Fire Department for his injury. Sullivan said the woman was transported by Orange Fire and then airlifted to the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where she is in stable condition and expected to survive, according to Mary Carey, spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.