Woburn Man Arrested In NY After Stabbing At Salem State University
SALEM (CBS) --- A man who police say jumped on a Salem State University shuttle bus and slashed two people late Wednesday morning has been arrested in New York.
The attack happened around 11 a.m. on Loring Avenue as the bus turned into Central Campus.
A shelter in place order was put into effect on the campus and on Horace Mann Lab Elementary School. It was lifted around 2:30 p.m.
Classes were canceled for the rest of the day.
"Emergency preparedness training became very important to this university, especially after Virginia Tech," university spokeswoman Karen Cady said. "And this is proof-positive of how effective this is."
A warrant was issued for 25-year-old Timothy Wells of Woburn in connection with the slashing. He was wanted on assault with intent to murder charges. Salem Police say he was arrested in New York Wednesday night after his car broke down on the Taconic State Parkway.
School officials say Wells is enrolled in the school but is currently on leave.
Police tell WBZ, he has had run-ins with police in the past.
Police believe Wells jumped on the bus and slashed a female student on the top of her hand. The woman says she did not know her attacker.
The driver stopped the bus and tried to intervene and was slashed on the chest.
Both wounds are said to be superficial. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The man then got off the bus, ran toward CVS Pharmacy on Canal Street and jumped into a waiting car, the school said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
Salem State Slashing
Police were looking for a 1999 Toyota Camry with license plate 804NTM that fled the area.
Dylana Barilone is a freshman who saw the aftermath of the attack. She had just stepped off the shuttle bus behind the one in question. "I saw the kid get off and run," she says. "I saw his white shirt go running that way. Then like two minutes later the cops pulled up and undercover went flying that way! I saw the [driver] get off the bus and he had blood on his shirt. They put caution tape up and it was just really crazy."
Cavalier Coach, the bus company that operates the shuttle service released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
"We greatly appreciate the immediate action our driver took to protect the passenger from further harm and we wish him, and the passenger, a quick recovery. We are cooperating with law enforcement on this matter," CEO Joan Libby said.
The female student was treated at the scene.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 978-542-6111 or 978-542-TIPS (8477).
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong contributed to this report.
