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CHESTER, W.Va. -- A city man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a longtime friend during a holiday visit Monday.
Kevin J. Frederick, 53, of 701 Maxwell Ave., was arrested shortly after 8:31 p.m. Monday at his home, after Chester police and Hancock County Sheriff's deputies arrived at his residence.
County dispatchers answered a frantic call that a man had been "stabbed in the belly" at Frederick's residence.
Frederick and his friend, Eric M. Hebb, 52, of East Liverpool, were the only ones present in the house at the time, according to a press release issued Tuesday by Chester Police Chief Chuck Stanley.
"It is not known at this time what transpired to cause events to escalate," the release said.
Frederick had told responding medical personnel and police that "Hebb had assaulted him, so he stabbed Hebb in the bel(t)," according to the release.
First responders, who arrived within minutes of the initial call, discovered Hebb lying inside the house on the floor.
Stanley explained, "(Hebb) had a deep laceration to his abdominal area, causing his internal organs to be eviscerated. Chester Volunteer Fire Department First Responders and Hancock County Ambulance Service personnel arrived and began treating Hebb for his serious injury."
An air ambulance was not immediately available, so Hebb was transported to East Liverpool City Hospital where he was initially in critical condition but shortly after stabilized enough to be flown by STAT Medevac to the trauma center at UPMC-Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he underwent immediate surgery.
As of the media release time, Stanley said that Hebb is currently listed as critical but stable condition.
After his arrest at the home upon authorities' arrival, Frederick was taken into custody immediately, processed and then transported to the WV Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville, W.Va., where he is currently being held pending a court appearance. He is being charged with malicious wounding, which carries a maximum penalty behind bars of 10 years if convicted.
Frederick is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.