EAST BRUNSWICK — A Brooklyn, N.Y., man was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly stabbed his friend in the leg outside their room at the McIntosh Inn, Route 18, last week.
According to police, Edwin Irizarry, 29, was arrested after police were called to the motel at 3:41 a.m. and determined that he stabbed his 33-year-old friend just below the knee while reportedly playing with a knife outside the room. Police believe that after the stabbing, Irizarry carried his friend into the room and called 911.
Upon their arrival, patrolmen John Sisolak, Matthew Petrillo and David Schmidt noticed blood on Irizarry’s hands and boots and found a bloody knife in the room.
Police said their investigation of the incident revealed that the men, who were reportedly staying in East Brunswick so they could go to clubs in the Sayreville area, may have been drinking at the time of the stabbing. Police said they were told the men were pretending to play a game like "Russian roulette," but with a knife, and that the stabbing was accidental. The victim does not appear to have a clear memory of the event, according to police.
The victim was still hospitalized earlier this week at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was transported by the East Brunswick Rescue Squad immediately following police arrival at the motel. The victim underwent surgery after his arrival at the hospital, and was expected to recover from his wound.
Following his arrest, Irizarry was held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center, North Brunswick, in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Police Detectives Eric Raps and Kevin Zebro continue to investigate the incident.