Dorchester Murderer Set Free Amid Pandemic Is Accused of Boston Road Rage Stabbing

 

A Dorchester murderer who was set free last year amid the coronavirus pandemic is now accused of stabbing a man during a Boston road rage clash.

Joseph Irizarry Sr., 41, who was on parole from a murder conviction stemming from a 2000 gang-related shooting in Lawrence, is now facing charges in connection with last week’s stabbing in the area of Boylston Street and Charlesgate East.

Massachusetts State Police troopers at 7:37 p.m. last Wednesday responded to the Bowker Overpass following a stabbing during a road rage incident. A 59-year-old man suffered a knife wound to his abdomen during the confrontation.

Police determined that the victim was in a vehicle with a relative when a blue GMC Acadia, coming from the direction of Massachusetts Avenue, ran a red light and almost struck the victim’s vehicle.

The vehicles stopped prior to the intersection of the Bowker Overpass and Boylston Street, where the driver of the Arcadia, later identified as Irizarry, and the victim and his relative began to argue.

Irizarry then allegedly punched both occupants of the other vehicle in the face, and then got a knife from his vehicle and stabbed the victim. Irizarry then sped away, according to police.

The victims called 911 and the man who was stabbed was transported by Boston EMS to Tufts Medical Center. He is expected to recover from his stab wound.

State Police then learned that Irizarry was driving the Acadia, and identified him as the alleged stabber.

Earlier this week, State Police detectives obtained a warrant charging him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Troopers contacted his parole officer, and the suspect was notified that the charges against him were a violation of his parole.

Irizarry agreed to surrender and was taken into custody in Medford. He returned to prison on the parole violation.

Irizarry had been convicted of second-degree murder and was granted parole in 2020. The Massachusetts Parole Board in the decision to release the murderer said it was an “abbreviated administration decision issued in an effort to render an expedited resolution in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Parole Board wrote that they concluded he was a “suitable candidate for parole,” and he had “made substantial rehabilitative progress and his release would not be incompatible with the welfare of society.”

To see more CLICK HERE.