Cambria County man charged, jailed for attempted homicide in Blair County
By: Lauren Hensley
ALTOONA, Pa. -- Police say they caught up with a wanted Cambria County man who has been on the road for almost a month.
"He is definitely lucky for the location where he was stabbed," a neighbor said. "He is lucky for sure."
Lucky to be alive.
That's what neighbors have to say about Justin Hollobaugh, a man who was forcefully stabbed in the back of the head earlier this month.
Altoona police said on August 5, Hollobaugh and another man pulled into a parking lot in the 1500 block of Third Avenue in Altoona.
Police said Jesse Rickabaugh asked the two men for a ride, but they told him no, and that's when police said Rickabaugh violently lashed out.
"He was actually struck with such force that the blade and the handle actually broke apart from one another," Altoona Police Lt. Jeffrey Pratt said.
Police said a good Samaritan who happened to be a nurse heard the commotion and stepped in to help.
She spoke to 6 News, but didn't want to be identified.
"It looked like he just hit him in the neck and then the guy fell to the ground," the woman said. "Just a lot of blood and he was in pain."
Police said Hollobaugh's brain was exposed to air, and the knife went so deep it punctured his spinal column fluid.
They said Hollobaugh is recovering and is expected to have life-long medical issues from the stabbing.
As for Rickabaugh, police said he hit out for nearly three weeks.
Police said thanks to community tips, Cresson Borough police found his location and arrested him.
"They were very diligent in hunting him down and eventually taking him into custody," Pratt said.
Rickabaugh is now behind bars. He's facing attempted homicide charges and is expected to appear in court later this week.
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