A domestic quarrel between two roommates on Sunday escalated
into a stabbing and attempted murder, according to the Hollister
Police Department.
Francis Gechig, 25, of 1156 San Benito St., allegedly stabbed
his roommate Steven Ngalen repeatedly with a knife just outside
their San Benito Street apartment at about 5:50 p.m., Hollister
Police Capt. Bob Brooks said.
A domestic quarrel between two roommates on Sunday escalated into a stabbing and attempted murder, according to the Hollister Police Department.
Francis Gechig, 25, of 1156 San Benito St., allegedly stabbed his roommate Steven Ngalen repeatedly with a knife just outside their San Benito Street apartment at about 5:50 p.m., Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks said.
Ngalen, 24, fled the scene on foot, leaving a blood trail that eventually led police to Fifth and Line streets where they were then dispatched to the Mission Oaks Trailer Park after a resident had been approached by a man covered in blood asking for medical assistance, Brooks said.
The officers apprehended Ngalen and he was taken to Hazel Hawkins Hospital with several knife wounds to his left arm and torso, Brooks said. Ngalen was later released.
When policed re-sponded to the call, they found blood spatters outside the apartment and on the front door.
“They could hear someone yelling inside the apartment and had to force entry,” Brooks said.
While being detained, Gechig was heard screaming and crying hysterically, yelling for the officers to read him his rights and acting strange.
“He seemed very disturbed,” officer Rosie Betanio said. “He was very upset about something.”
Gechig had some blood on his body, but there were no signs of injury, Brooks said. Gechig was taken to the San Benito County Jail, where he is being held on $100,000 bail.
Because of an odor of alcohol, a sample of Gechig’s blood was taken to test for alcohol and drugs, Brooks said.
A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, witnessed the attack while he sat inside his apartment watching television with the door open.
“I saw the smaller one walk out and then the other one run up behind him with what looked like either a hatchet or a hammer,” he said. “Then there was a loud thump.”
After witnessing the attack, the man shut his door and immediately called police, he said.
According to the witness, the two men had had some troubles during their two- to three-month residence at the apartment complex.
“People have complained to the landlord about them before, for peeping tom-type things and trying to get into people’s apartments,” he said.
The landlord, Martin Cortes, denied anyone had complained about the roommates and that they were not planning an eviction.
“This is the first time the police have been called,” he said.
Records show the police had been called to the apartment complex once during the past year for a petty vehicle theft.
Another neighbor who also asked to remain anonymous said he saw Gechig after the attack holding a weapon.
“I saw him walking around with a steak knife,” he said. “I asked him if he was OK. He apologized to me and then went into his apartment.”
The incident is still under investigation, according to police.
