Man charged in stabbing outside Market Basket in Chelsea claims he acted in self-defense

CHELSEA, Mass. — A man charged in connection with a stabbing following a parking dispute outside of a Market Basket in Chelsea that left another man injured on Monday allegedly told investigators that he acted in self-defense.

Rojas Avalo, 25, of Revere was arraigned Tuesday in Chelsea District Court on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. A judge set his bail at $500.

The stabbing victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Before the victim was transported to the hospital, he was able to tell officers the license plate of his alleged attacker, according to the Chelsea Police Department. Officers then responded to the car’s listed address in Revere and encountered Avalo outside of an apartment on Crescent Avenue.

During the booking process, Avalo was said to be found in possession of a small gun keychain that opened up to become a knife.

While speaking with investigators, Avalo claimed that the victim drove up in the parking lot and almost collided with his vehicle as he was trying to park, court paperwork indicated.

During his arraignment, Avalo’s lawyer argued that his client stabbed the victim in act of self-defense. “He took something out of the car, so I had to defend myself,” Avalo told investigators, the court paperwork showed.

The victim reportedly told police that he had just dropped off his girlfriend at the store and was attempting to park when Avalo cut him off, almost causing an accident. Police said the victim then snapped a photo of Avalo’s vehicle, leading to an exchange of words and the alleged stabbing.

A Boston 25 News camera captured video of police tape surrounding a black car in the supermarket parking lot on Everett Avenue.

“What the heck is going on with everybody today? People are just crazy today I don’t know what the hell is going on,” shopper Theresa King told Boston 25 News. “I would have let them have the spot. I wouldn’t have pulled in to try to make a confrontation with anybody. I don’t know exactly what happened who was in the right and who was in the wrong.”

Business inside the Market Basket was not disrupted.

Avalo is due back in court in March.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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