Stabbing At Manchester Restaurant Leads To Attempted Murder Charge

MANCHESTER, CT — A woman was stabbed at a popular Manchester chicken restaurant, and a 38-year-old East Hartford man is facing an attempted murder charge as a result.

Police Friday said the 41-year-old female was recovering after being stabbed in the parking lot of Popeyes, 199 Spencer St.

It began as a domestic dispute just before 3 p.m. Friday, police said. The woman was seen exiting the passenger seat of a vehicle, bleeding from the right side of her abdomen, according to an incident report. Officers began emergency medical care and paramedics then took over and transported her to Hartford Hospital, according to an incident report.

The assailant stabbed the victim while standing outside the vehicle she was sitting in, then fled on foot heading north, according t0 an incident report. A Manchester Police dog unit located the man in a wooded area north of Pascal Lane.

The assailant, identified as 38-year-old Leonel Colon-Ortiz of East Hartford, was transported to the Manchester Police Department and was charged with:

• Attempted Murder
• First-degree assault
• Threatening in the first degree
• Third-degree assault
• Carrying a dangerous weapon
• Second-degree breach of peace (2 Counts)
• First-degree reckless endangerment (2 Counts)
• Interfering with police

Colon-Ortiz was held over the weekend on a $1 million bond and is set to appear in court Monday.

The investigation is ongoing, police said, and anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed the incident, is being asked to contact the Manchester Police Department at 860-645-5500.