Text message feud ends in stabbing

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) - Central Falls police said a text messaging feud between two teenagers resulted in one local teenager being stabbed and another being charged.

The incident happened Tuesday around 9 p.m. in the city.

According to police, a fight broke out between a dozen or so teenagers. The altercation stemmed from a threatening text message one teen sent to another, police said.

However, police said neither the teen who was stabbed nor the teen who is charged were involved in the text battle. In fact, the two didn't even know each other.

"It just manifested itself. Became larger at that point, where more people were involved and unfortunately resulted with one person being stabbed," said Capt. James Mendonca of the Central Falls Police Department.

According to an unidentified eyewitness, the victim was stabbed in the back.

"I just seen the kid try to punch and then his arm went over the kid's head and he was turned so his back was facing toward the kid and then he just stabbed him in the back," the witness said.

The suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile, is facing criminal charges in Family Court. The victim was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, where as of Wednesday afternoon he was listed in stable condition.