How times have changed. Massachusetts citizens of 200 years ago didn't have to rely on clubs to protect themselves.
Posted on 02/25/2018 10:26:05 AM PST by Tekgeek
Neighbors of a 23-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a woman with a 10-inch hunting knife during a rampage inside Winchester Public Library today say his behavior has been increasingly erratic in recent months and one even said he warned authorities that he “will kill somebody.”
“We warned them. We warned them. I can’t believe this,” one of Jeffrey Yao’s neighbors told the Herald. “This whole thing could have been avoided, all of it.”
The neighbor, who asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution, said Yao, identified by authorities as the man who fatally stabbed a 22-year-old Winchester woman inside the library yesterday morning, tried to “smash our door down” at 3 a.m. late last year.
The neighbor, a father of two young children, said he spoke with authorities about the incident and warned them that Yao posed a serious threat to the public.
“I said ... he will kill someone,” the man said. “He will kill the family or he will kill somebody.”
At about 10 a.m., Yao approached the 22-year-old victim from behind as she was sitting in a reading section of the Washington Street library and repeatedly plunged a hunting knife with a 10-inch blade into her body, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said, leaving her with “a number of slash and stab wounds to the head and upper torso.”
One eyewitness told the Herald he heard a loud commotion coming from the reading section and saw Yao acting agitated and yelling incoherently.
The woman, whose name hasn’t been released, later died from her injuries, Ryan said. A 77-year-old man who was sitting near her at the time of the attack tried to stop the assault and suffered non-life-threatening stab wounds, Ryan said. Other library patrons jumped in and subdued Yao until police arrived, she said.
Ryan said Yao is known to police but declined to elaborate. She said he will be arraigned Monday in Woburn District Court on charges of murder and attempted murder.
His neighbors weren’t surprised to hear Yao was involved in the attack. Some neighbors said he has become increasingly aggressive in recent months and started keying cars, slashing tires and smashing bottles in the street.
One neighbor said she has been keeping her kids inside the house whenever Yao was around. Another said neighborhood residents have taken steps to protect themselves.
“People started buying bats to have by their beds,” she said.
The woman said she and her neighbors tried to warn Winchester police but were told they were aware of Yao’s behavior and had been shadowing him when he leaves his house at night.
Winchester police officials referred all questions to Ryan’s office, which declined to answer questions about authorities’ knowledge of Yao.
The horrific crime in such a public place rattled residents who passed by the scene.
“I tell my kids to come here after school,” said Gina Bellistri. “I’m just a little shocked this is happening.”
The library will remain closed until at least Tuesday.
See, see! Them bump stocks again!
More Democrat failure.
But I disgress: Its all the NRA’s fault!
Our non crazy’s/not insane citizens are at peril 24/7 from these insane bastards on our streets.
The cops at all levels from Sheriff’s charged with protecting our children at school from crazies to these poor people living in fear in Winchester, are not doing their jobs due to liberal mayors, police chiefs, and local governments.
That's because here in MA, even in a "green town" like Winchester (as opposed to red towns, where they make it difficult to get a firearm, or a black town like Boston where it is simply impossible unless you're one of the beautiful people) it requires a state-mandated training course and at least a couple hundred bucks (and up to a few months wait) to get a pistol permit (which doubles as a license to carry) or a rifle/shotgun permit. So many here have to rely on clubs to defend themselves -- I hope they chug plenty of Alex Jones' Caveman drink, because that's the level of self-defense they're reduced to.
“See something , say something” and we’ll do nothing.
Okay, I wonder what the story is on Mr. Yao. Did he have a job? Did he live with family? What came of the slashed tires, broken bottles incidents? C’mon reporters, report !
““People started buying bats to have by their beds,” she said.”
I didn’t know pet stores carried them.
“The cops at all levels from Sheriff’s charged with protecting our children at school from crazies to these poor people living in fear in Winchester, are not doing their jobs due to liberal mayors, police chiefs, and local governments.”
Once again first observers do nada.
First observers.
“6tried to “smash our door down” at 3 a.m. late last year.”
In normal parts of the country that would have been the last thing he did.
Another known killer.
Interesting story. Obviously the public in that area was wise to the fact that government is not there to help. They took their own measures. Very sad that victim wan’t alerted in time to vacate the scene.
I live in the area....few towns over. This guy, from what I read, was on medication & lived with his parents. The entire neighborhood was living in fear of him. The police did nothing even though this guy committed crime after crime. Property damage, threats to the neighbors.....nothing stopped his reign of terror.
People need to defend themselves. The police are concerned with other things besides your defense as events recently have shown.
Betcha the guy was on drug—either prescription or illegal.
Damn NRA and their knife supporting organization Ive said it once and I will say it again BAN ASSAULT KNIVES..if it can just save ONE person
How times have changed. Massachusetts citizens of 200 years ago didn't have to rely on clubs to protect themselves.
The rational response demands the library be torn down.
/s
Perfect comment.Thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.