VERO BEACH — A man and 17-year-old who police said stabbed two residents at their home in early July in a dispute over marijuana now face additional charges each of attempted second-degree murder, reports show.
One resident was seriously hurt in the attack, police said. The victims were able to identify to police one of the suspects as Jorge Casales, 19, after his mask fell off during the home invasion.
The other suspect – identified as 17-year-old Christian Barthelemy – later told officers Casales thought the victims stole his drugs and that he wanted to rob them, reports show.
Casales, of the 1400 block of 5th Place, and Barthelemy, of the 1200 block of 19th Avenue Southwest, were charged in late July and early August with attempted second-degree murder with a weapon. Casales still remained Thursday at the Indian River County Jail on $425,000 bond.
Details on if Barthelemy is still being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in St. Lucie County were not available. It was not immediately known if the teen will be tried as an adult or juvenile.
A booking photo for Barthelemy was not available.
Police originally arrested Casales and Barthelemy on charges of home invasion robbery, aggravated battery and false imprisonment. The pair broke into a home about 2 p.m. July 9 on 31st Avenue.
Officers said the suspects were trying to steal items inside when they encountered a woman who was visiting the home. Barthelemy held the woman at knife point while Casales held what appeared to be a gun to the woman’s head, reports show.
Two other men who lived at the residence heard the commotion and confronted the suspects. The residents tried to fight off Casales and Barthelemy, but were stabbed multiple times, authorities said.
The suspects stole cash and a small amount of marijuana from the men before fleeing the home, reports show.
One resident, who had serious injuries, was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, authorities said. The other man was taken to the Indian River Medical Center, where he was released later that same day.
Officers located the suspects a short time later and arrested them. Casales has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. August 15 while Barthelemy has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. August 29, court records show.
Comments