Man stabbed in Perth Amboy dies from his injuries

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (WABC) -- One of the two people stabbed in Perth Amboy Thursday has died, and the suspect is now charged with murder.

Phil Willis, 65, was rushed Raritan Bay Medical Center after the incident in the area of Smith Street just before 1 p.m., but he succumbed to his injuries about an hour later.

The suspect, identified as 75-year-old Anibal Rodriguez, was immediately detained after he allegedly attacked four people.

A 36-year-old woman, who also was stabbed, remains at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Her condition was not available.

Two others, a 54-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, were threatened with the knife, but were not injured.

Police say Rodriguez became involved in an argument with the 36-year-old woman inside his Madison Avenue apartment building, stabbed her multiple times, and threatened the 54-year-old woman and the 24-year-old man who ran to the building when he heard screams.

Authorities say Rodriguez then left the building and walked toward Smith Street, where he happened upon Willis, who he recognized him as an acquaintance of the 36-year-old woman.

Rodriguez allegedly attacked Willis and stabbed him several times. He was then subdued by an on-duty Middlesex County Sheriff's Officer, with the help of a civilian passerby.

Rodriguez is charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He is being held in lieu of $1.7 million bail.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Marchak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3254, or Detective Mohamed of the Perth Amboy Police Department at (732) 442-4400.

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