Ex-boyfriend accused in fatal stabbing in Stratford

Stratford, Conn. (WTNH) - Police in Stratford are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man, and the suspect they arrested was identified as the ex-boyfriend of a woman who was also injured.

It happened Monday morning on Hollister Street.

When officers arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. they found a man in the street with multiple stab wounds, Capt. Kenneth Bakalar told News 8. With him was a woman suffering from less serious injuries, police said.

"The neighbors pointed out a suspect where he fled down to Jackson Avenue and we did arrest the suspect down the street a short time later," Capt. Bakalar said.

"That's when we saw the victim run out of the house. My husband looked over and said, ‘Is he okay?’ It looked like he was full of blood, said Jamie Sheck. “That's when my husband jumped out and said, 'Dude are you alright?' And the guy came running back to our car and said, 'I was just stabbed.'"

Jamie and Chris Sheck were driving down Hollister Street at the time.

“That's when I knew something was wrong, and I looked up and saw the school bus full of kids,” Chris Scheck explained. "I just pulled over and blocked him and told him to lay down and I just didn't want the kids to see it."

Police say 33-year-old Rebecca Paul-Louis and her 28-year-old boyfriend, Mark Williams of Bridgeport, were stabbed by 29-year-old Joseph Stanley, also of Bridgeport, in a violent confrontation.

"The gentleman broke in the house and confronted the new boyfriend and the ex girlfriend, and the stabbing ensued,” stated Police Captain Kenneth Bakalar. “We're not sure of the details of that yet."

Police caught Stanley just a few blocks from the scene.

Neighbors say they never expected to see something like this happen on their street.

"This neighborhood is full of children,” Jamie Scheck said. “They're always out riding their bikes and skateboards all the time."

Stratford Police say they have several witnesses. Right now they are working on forensic evidence to nail down the case.

Mark Williams was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Stanley is charged with first-degree assault. More charges are pending.

He is being held on $1 Million bond.

Note: An earlier report indicated the incident happened near an elementary school, but that was incorrect. The school is a few blocks away from the stabbing scene.