CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. — A Silver Spring man remains behind bars without bond after authorities say he stabbed a coworker at a construction site in Mechanicsville, later telling deputies the act was driven by prolonged bullying and verbal harassment at work.
Midday Stabbing Sparks Police Response
Jose Wilbert Herrera-Chavez, 36, was arrested on June 6 following an incident at the Sheetz construction site on Three Notch Road. St. Mary’s County deputies were first alerted to the stabbing when they received a report from MedStar Health Urgent Care around 4:30 p.m., where the victim was being treated for a stab wound to the abdomen.
Due to the severity of the injury, the victim was later airlifted by Maryland State Police Aviation to Capital Region Medical Center for advanced medical care. His current condition has not been publicly disclosed.
Victim Needed Translator to Explain Incident
According to court documents, a language barrier made initial communication with the victim difficult. He ultimately used his phone to contact his employer, who then helped translate his account for deputies.
The victim explained that he and Herrera-Chavez were both employed by an electrical company based in Silver Spring. He said he was attacked without warning and identified his coworker as the person who stabbed him using a knife approximately 5 to 6 inches in length. The victim emphasized that no argument or fight had occurred beforehand, and the assault came as a complete surprise.
Suspect Voluntarily Approaches Deputies
As deputies canvassed the job site and interviewed workers, a man in a high-visibility vest approached and identified himself as “Wilbert.” He handed over a Maryland driver’s license confirming his full identity as Jose Wilbert Herrera-Chavez.
Deputies detained him and conducted an interview using the sheriff’s office language translation line. During the conversation, Herrera-Chavez confessed to the stabbing and claimed he had endured relentless bullying from three coworkers, including the victim.
He said he was repeatedly called names like “fat” and “son of a bitch,” and that the teasing pushed him to his emotional limit. According to Herrera-Chavez, he used a knife typically reserved for cutting watermelon in the break area to stab his coworker in a moment of rage. He denied sustaining any injuries and said his coworkers laughed at him after the incident.
Weapon Recovered, Charges Filed
Deputies recovered the knife used in the stabbing at the job site. Herrera-Chavez was immediately arrested and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. He was officially charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault.
A bond review hearing was held before Judge James Tanavage, who ordered Herrera-Chavez to remain in custody without bond, citing the severity of the allegations. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 7 in District Court.
Potential Penalties if Convicted
If convicted, Herrera-Chavez could face serious legal consequences. First-degree assault in Maryland carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Second-degree assault carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.
The case has raised broader concerns about workplace harassment and the emotional toll it can take on employees, especially in high-stress, physically demanding environments. While investigators continue gathering evidence and witness statements, the legal process will determine whether Herrera-Chavez’s claims of bullying hold any weight in court.
For now, the construction site remains under scrutiny as the community grapples with the violent outburst and its underlying causes.
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