A Fort Smith man is behind bars following a stabbing and a manhunt which began Monday (Nov. 25).
Emergency crews responded to North 17th and G streets around 4 p.m. Monday in reference to a reported stabbing. Medical crews found Debarious Curry with multiple stab wounds to the face and body, thought to be non-life-threatening, according to the Fort Smith Police Department.
Investigators began looking for Jordan Rivera, 19, who they believe attacked Curry before running from the scene. Rivera was considered to be armed and dangerous, according to the Fort Smith Police Department.
5NEWS was the first to tell Crystal Fantuzzi what Rivera is accused of doing. She said she is a mother to Rivera and helped raise him.
"For you to sit here and tell me that he stabbed somebody in the face, that's not the Jordan Rivera I know," she said.
An eyewitness, Missollie Hawkins, told Fort Smith police Rivera had been threatening her family for more than a week. She and Curry, her nephew, were leaving the Dollar General at N. 17th and Grand Avenue when Rivera ran up to the driver's side window of the car and started banging on the window, police said.
Police said Curry got out of the car on the passenger side and Rivera ran up and stabbed him. Hawkins sprayed Rivera with Mace, after which a county deputy arrived on the scene and the suspect fled, according to Fort Smith police.
Rivera is being held on a $53,000 bond. Due to his charges, he will have to pay an additional $1,070 in cash to leave after he posts bond, according to jail administrators.
Sebastian County deputies and the Fort Smith Fire Department also responded to the scene of the stabbing, police said.
