Neighbors demand action after stabbing at Newport home

NEWPORT, R.I. (WJAR) -- Hezekiah Mendoza, a 39-year-old resident of Providence, appeared before a judge on Thursday after being arrested in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred on Dudley Avenue in Newport on Wednesday night. Mendoza is accused of stabbing a 35-year-old man at a home in the area before fleeing the scene in a red 2004 Honda CR-V with California plates.

The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition. This incident adds to the ongoing concerns about safety in the neighborhood, particularly surrounding the same house, where a stabbing took place in February 2022 that resulted in a man's death.

Residents have expressed their fears about the house, with one local, Kate Repko, referring to it as the "murder house" and asserting that it contributes to a palpable sense of insecurity in the area. Trevor Kutsaftis, who lives next door, echoed these sentiments, calling for the removal of the house to enhance neighborhood safety and criticizing local officials for their lack of action.

Mendoza has been charged with assault with intent to commit specified felonies and disorderly conduct. The court has set his bail at $40,000, and he is scheduled to return for a hearing on May 22.

The recent events have heightened calls for change from community members who are worried that without action, more incidents may occur in their neighborhood.