A man has been arrested in a stabbing at a Massachusetts sports bar that left a 31-year-old Woburn man in critical condition.
James Lyons, a 36-year-old Woburn resident, was charged with assault with intent to murder and is being held on $50,000 bail. He'll face a judge in Woburn District Court on Monday.
Woburn police say Lyons stabbed the victim, whose identity has not been released, outside of Jake n JOES early Friday morning just as the restaurant was closing and sped off on a motorcycle.
Wakefield police confirm just minutes after Woburn police broadcast a description of the suspect's motorcycle, one of its officers spotted a similar sports bike speeding up 128 North past his cruiser.
Wakefield police say that officer at first pursued the suspect, but then backed off when it was clear the suspect was driving too fast to safely follow him.
According to a source, the victim and Lyons were watching the New England Patriots preseason game against the Chicago Bears and began exchanging words.
The victim was rushed to nearby Lahey Hospital, where he underwent surgery overnight and remains in critical condition.
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Woburn police say Lyons was caught using social media and police work, and that surveillance video from inside the restaurant gave them images to work from.
On Friday, a member of the restaurant’s ownership group said the safety and security of employees and patrons is the company’s top priority.
Gerry Fruggiero said the fight happened outside the restaurant, and the victim and suspect has been inside before the fight but nothing seemed wrong at the time.
“Distraught,” Fruggiero said when asked how he was feeling. “I’ve been with the company for 20 years and we never ever had anything like this happen.”
The investigation is being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and the Woburn Police Department.
