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RIPTA Bus Stabbing Suspect Arraigned on Murder Charge

The suspect, Christopher James, was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Second District Court.

 

A Providence man, arrested early Wednesday morning after allegedly stabbing a Portsmouth woman on a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus, was arraigned this afternoon in Second District Court. 

Christopher R. James, 46, with a last known address of 207 Rhodes St., Providence, was charged with first-degree domestic murder, according to WPRO. He did not enter a plea at his arraignment, according to the article. 

He is being held without bail pending a hearing, reports The Providence Journal

The Journal also released the identity of the victim despite investigators withholding this information pending family notification. 

At 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, Portsmouth police were called to the overlook on West Main Road near Willow Lane in regards to a reported stabbing that occurred on a RIPTA bus.

"When police arrived on scene, they learned that a 46-year-old female resident of Portsmouth had been stabbed by a male passenger shortly after she boarded the bus," according to a press release. "Immediately after the stabbing, two other male passengers brought the suspect to the ground and detained him until police arrived." 

The woman was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. 

Police and RIPTA officials are stressing the incident appears to be a domestic-related incident, and not a "random act of violence." 

James has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1985, according to court records, including a 2011 charge of assault on a person over 60 in which he was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI). He has been arrested more than 20 times in the last two decades, reports WPRO

Related Topics: Christopher R. James, RIPTA, and RIPTA stabbing

Eileen hadaya

8:24 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Such a sad day today , my heart goes out to this poor woman and her family ! god bless, from a RIPTA driver.....

Reply

Joe Sousa

8:34 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Is this a crime that deserves the death penalty ? RI needs to rethink the issue.

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BD

10:06 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

You might want to sit this one out.

Just Another Taxpayer

8:15 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Joe, your commenting on a murder case is the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.

Reply

Joe Sousa

4:32 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Who are you calling black ? Nimrod !

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Just Another Taxpayer

6:01 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Joe, everyone knows about your checkered past.

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