A brutal machete attack at a Wellington horse stable left two people with severe injuries, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, Abundio Jasso, 56, was arrested and faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, officials say. The violent altercation occurred on Tuesday night, when a horse stable owner and her tenant were assaulted with a machete, CBS12 reports.
Responding to a 911 call deputies found the victims—stable owner Aimee Waters and Joseph Hawk—at the scene with significant injuries inflicted by the blade. Waters' nose was nearly cut off in the assault and Hawk sustained deep cuts to his arm and ribcage. "It's just horrifying for us that someone in our community had to endure this, the man who did it. I don't know what to say," neighbor Randy Halvorsrød expressed his shock to CBS12.
Jasso was a recent hire at the horse stable brought on as a groomsman and was allowed by Waters to reside in an RV on the property. Tensions had reportedly risen between the employer and employee, stemming from Jasso's intoxication and failure to perform his duties. On the night of the attack Waters and Hawk approached Jasso about not completing his night check of the stables, leading to the confrontational and violent episode, as described in reports by WPBF.
Following the incident, both victims were able to escape and hide, subsequently calling for help. The suspect claimed that the assault was provoked by insults from Waters. "Her friend Joe, who was there, she said, basically saved her life," said Halvorsrød regarding Waters' gratitude towards Hawk for his actions during the attack. The victims are expected to recover, with Waters set to be discharged from the hospital soon, CBS12 reported. Jasso is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without the possibility of bond.
