POLICE: Hitchhicker Wanted After Stabbing Driver

On June 27, at around 2:26 AM, Ellwood City Police Department officers reported to an area hospital after a call came in to report a man was in the lobby bleeding from the neck.

When they made contact with victim John Lucchesi and while waiting for emergency services to arrive, police questioned the man as to what happened.

Luccesi reported that after he had offered a hitchhiker a ride, he had stabbed him after an argument. Lucchesi said he had picked up the hitchhiker near the BnB Express on Fourth Street. The pair began driving when an argument began and Lucchesi tried to get the man out of his car on Lawrence Avenue. Lucchesi said that parked the car after the hitchhiker refused to leave, and when he go out and walked to the passenger side door to attempt to pull the man out. He reported that a physical fight then broke out between them and amidst the fight he was stabbed. The hitchhiker then left the scene, walking west on West Lawrence Avenue.

While patrolling the area around where Lucchesi had been stabbed, police began asking local homeowners on Thirteenth Street, which is close to the intersection where Lucchesi was stabbed, if they had seen anything. One neighbor reported hearing the fight, watching it on his front porch while it happened before the two parted ways.

The witness said that after Lucchesi drove off, the hitchhiker went into the rear yard of another neighbor. Police were aware of who resided in the residence, and proceeded to venture to the front door. When they knocked, Frederic Vincik Sr., answered and opened the door. Police asked if he had been aware of what had happened in his back yard, he said no and that he was asleep so they asked to speak to Frederic “Freddy” Vincik Jr. Freddy appeared at the door with bruising on his face and two black eyes and only briefly observed ECPD before he attempted to turn around and go back inside, but his father prevented it.  Freddy told police when they asked what had happened that he was in a fight and couldn’t remember with who. Police then took him into custody for further questioning.

Freddy told police that he started off the night drinking with some people at his house before they left to go to Mikes Main Street Bar and Grill. He then continued saying that he had to find a ride due to his level of intoxication and that the next thing he knew he was loosing a fight and pulled out his knife. When asked if he stabbed Lucchesi, he said he may have but he didn’t remember. He then refused to give a written statement. Police then called his father for more information to which they relieved as well as evidence.

By June 29, Lucchesi had been released from the hospital and had given police the full encounter of the fight that had broken out and verified that Vincik Jr., was the one who stabbed him that night.

Vincik Jr. will be charged with Aggravated and Simple Assault as well as Recklessly Endangerment of another person. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.