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Chehalis Wal-Mart stabbing suspect says teen hit him first

2017.1009.josechagollaflores9751 [1]

Jose F. Chagolla Flores steps away from the defense table after his bail hearing in Lewis County Superior Court

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Onalaska teen who allegedly stabbed another teen in the chest in Wal-Mart’s parking lot told police he was engaged with someone else when the 17-year-old showed up and hit him in the face hard enough to knock him to the ground, according to authorities.

Eighteen-year-old Jose F. Chagolla Flores said he got up off the ground, was “hell mad” and tired from working – and hates to be hit in the face – so he pulled out his knife and stabbed the 17-year-old, according to charging documents.

Chagolla Flores was ordered held on $500,000 bail when he went before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court. He was charged with first-degree assault.

The condition of the 17-year-old victim, who has not been named, is unknown.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sara Beigh told the judge the allegation is the boy was stabbed in the heart. She said in a conversation with a detective, the suspect claimed to be a gang member.

Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller said her client lives with his mother, who was in the courtroom along with his father. He has juvenile “matters” that are sealed, she said.

Tiller said he was working but probably has now lost his employment so she believed he qualified for a court-appointed lawyer.

According to the Chehalis Police Department and charging documents, officers were dispatched just before 9 p.m. on Thursday for a fight between two males at the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. Wal-Mart employees told them on was white and the other was black, charging documents relate.

The males had already left in separate vehicles.

Soon after, police were advised of a 17-year-old boy who was seeking medical treatment at Providence Centralia Hospital for a stab wound. They contacted the patient, who was not cooperative with officers. He was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and would later go through surgery to repair the damage done by the knife.

Friends of the 17-year-old in the hospital waiting room said he’d gotten into a fight with another male who stabbed him. The friends gave police a name for the suspect.

The following day, Chagolla Flores was located at a friend’s home. His vehicle was found at a residence on Brockway Road and was impounded.

Chagolla Flores reportedly gave a statement to police, that he had been meeting a third party at Wal-Mart to sell marijuana and they were about to do the transaction when the 17-year-old showed up. And then he relayed his account of what transpired.

He was arrested and “the knife” was located in his backpack which was with him.

“Officers did not see any injuries to Chagollan’s face and when asked he stated he had injuries except to one on his hand which was caused from the knife,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in charging documents.

Charging documents gave his name as Jose F. Chagollan Flores and Chehalis police stated yesterday his name was Jose Chagollan. Tiller advised the court the “N” at the end was incorrect.

His arraignment is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday in  Lewis County Superior Court.

The Chehalis Police Department yesterday morning indicated the condition of the victim and extent of his injuries were unknown. Department spokesperson Linda Bailey this afternoon said she still had not learned that information.
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For background, read “One injured, one arrested following stabbing outside Wal-Mart” from Monday October 9, 2017, here [2]