Stabbed Two Men He Did Not Know within One Hour
A Guatemalan national has been indicted for his alleged unprovoked stabbing of two random men, who were unknown to him, within an hour of each other in Riverhead.
On May 2 at approximately 3:15 p.m., Rene Alexander Elias Chaj allegedly stabbed the first victim with a knife in his left side while the two men were seated at the Time to Eat Deli on West Main Street in Riverhead. There was no altercation or any provocation leading up to the stabbing. The victim was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was treated for his wound.
After the stabbing, Elias Chaj exited the deli and boarded a Suffolk County Transit bus at the County Center in Riverhead at approximately 3:48 p.m. About three minutes after boarding, Elias Chaj allegedly jumped up from his seat and stabbed the second victim, who had been sitting behind him, on the left side of his body, puncturing his lung.
The victim had been sitting on his own, looking down on his phone when he was allegedly stabbed by Elias Chaj. The bus came to a stop after the victim was stabbed.
Elias Chaj then allegedly fled the bus and headed Northbound on County Road 51 on foot. He was arrested shortly afterwards on the side of the highway by officers from the Southampton Police Department. At the time of his arrest, Elias Chaj was allegedly in possession of a clear ziplock bag containing a white powdery substance, which field tested positive for cocaine.
On May 16, Elias Chaj was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for two counts of Assault in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, all Class D violent felonies.
Collins ordered Elias Chaj held on $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond or $3,000,000 secured bond during the pendency of the case. Elias Chaj is due back in court on June 4, and faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted on the top counts.
“Random acts of violence are chilling,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “The safety of our residents is my highest priority, and I will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure justice for the victims and protection for our community.”
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has filed a request for advance notice if this defendant is to be released.