Warrant issued in stabbing incident

The University Police Department has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man involved in a stabbing incident at New Pride Apartments on the afternoon of Jan. 6.

Jerald Manuel, who is no longer an A&M-Commerce student and has vacated his New Pride apartment, is wanted on a charge of burglary with intent to commit assault. 

The UPD investigation has found Manuel attempted to enter his girlfriend's apartment last week when he was stabbed in his left calf by his girlfriend and had to be hospitalized.

Manuel has reportedly told UPD he will turn himself in late next week. The investigation is still ongoing, and it is not clear if the stabbing was done in self-defense.

"It's hard to characterize something as self-defense, but certainly she felt like she was having to defend her property or her life; I don't know at this point," Lt. Jason Bone of UPD said.

According to Bone, the incident occurred as a result of a domestic dispute between the pair. 

"From what I understand, they had been seeing each other off and on for about two years," Bone said. "They did not reside together. They had gotten into an argument earlier in the day; I'm not exactly sure over what."

Bone said it appears Manuel was attempting to retrieve something from his girlfriend's apartment. He also said more information would become available after the arrest is made.