Yesterday’s sudden, senseless stabbing in a local parking lot stunned Westporters.
Just after 1 p.m., 18-year-old Ellis Tibere of Guilford opened the door of a car parked at 1137 Post Road East — New Beauty & Wellness Spa, the former site of Geiger’s Garden Center.
1137 Post Road East
Wearing a mask and wielding a knife, he stabbed a 33-year-old Greenwich woman — who he apparently did not know — multiple times. She attempted to fight back. As of last night, she was in serious but stable condition at Norwalk Hospital.
Tibere was listed as a junior at Guilford High School last year– on both the honor roll and lacrosse team.
It was a vicious, random attack. But in this frightening story, there are true heroes.
Ellis Tibere (Photo courtesy of Westport Police)
A bystander — a man who did not know either the assailant or the victim, and who has asked not to be identified — saw what was happening.
He yelled at Tibere, who apparently stopped what he was doing, and came after the man instead. Then he turned and fled.
Emergency personnel were on the scene quickly. They provided aid to the victim — and police quickly set up a perimeter.
An officer saw Tibere’s vehicle on the Sherwood Island Connector, headed toward I-95. The officer signaled him to stop. Tibere did, and was “compliant” when questioned. He had a knife and mask in his possession, and confessed to his involvement in the attack.
He has been charged with criminal attempt at murder, assault first degree and possession of a deadly weapon. He is being held on $1 million bond.
It was a scary scene, not often seen here. Thanks to the quick actions of a bystander, and the lightning speed and professionalism of the Westport Police Department, it was not even worse.
