Cops: 75-year-old man’s stabbing spree left one dead, one badly hurt

Authorities say a 75-year-old Perth Amboy fatally stabbed another resident, and attacked three others — including a woman who remains hospitalized.

Anibal Rodriguez was stopped only when Middlesex County Sheriff’s Officer Omar Smith, helped by a civilian passerby, knocked him to the ground on Smith Street and handcuffed him, authorities said.

Rodriguez has been arrested on murder and other charges, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Perth Amboy Deputy Chief Larry Cattano announced Friday. The incident and arrest happened the day before.

Phillip Willis, 65, also of Perth Amboy, was killed in the attack, authorities said. A 36-year-old woman, also was stabbed, remained at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, but authorities said they didn't know her condition.

The incident began in a Madison Avenue apartment building when Rodriguez became involved in an argument with the 36-year-old woman, stabbed her multiple times, and threatened a 54-year-old female and 24-year-old male who ran to the apartment building when they heard screams, authorities said.

Rodriguez left the building and walked toward Smith Street, where he happened upon Willis, and recognized him as an acquaintance of the 36-year-old woman, they said.

Rodriguez stabbed Willis, who was taken to Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy Division, where he was pronounced dead at 1:45 p.m., the authorities announced.

The results of an autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office were not immediately available.

Those conclusions are the product of an investigation by Detective Craig Marchak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Mohamed Mohamed of the Perth Amboy Police Department.

Rodriguez currently is being held in lieu of $1.7 million bail.

Authorities did not release the names of any of the other individuals involved.

They're asking that anyone with information call Marchak at 732-745-3254, or Mohamed oat 732-442-4400