A quiet night on Block Island turned violent last Thursday when a 44-year-old man stepped outside to check on his barking dogs and was stabbed during a physical altercation, leaving him with 22 stitches. Police say the confrontation unfolded on Chapel Street in New Shoreham around 11:30 p.m., and it ended with a 22-year-old out-of-state man facing felony charges.
According to WPRI, the victim found the suspect near some bushes after his dogs started barking. New Shoreham Police Chief Paul Deane said the man he encountered was William C. O’Bryon, 22, of Saratoga Springs, New York. The two got into a physical altercation, and O’Bryon allegedly pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed the victim four times.
The attack left the victim with wounds serious enough to require 22 stitches, though his injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Separately, WJAR reported that officials said the victim was stabbed in the right arm and right shoulder, went to the back of a house after hearing a dog barking, and was taken to Block Island Medical Center for treatment.
Suspect Caught Nearby After Fleeing
O’Bryon reportedly fled the scene after the stabbing, but he didn’t get far. Officers located him a short distance away and took him into custody, according to WPRI. He now faces felony charges in connection with the incident, and per WJAR, those charges include felony assault along with a weapons offense.
Despite the severity of the allegations, O’Bryon was released following his arrest. He is expected to be arraigned in Wakefield on Friday, where the case will move forward in court.
What Remains Unclear
Much about the circumstances of the stabbing has not been made public. It’s not known whether O’Bryon and the victim knew each other before the confrontation on Chapel Street, and no court documents detailing the specific statutes behind the felony charges have been released. The victim’s current condition and identity also have not been disclosed.
