TAUNTON, MASS. -- A Taunton man who was struck in the head with an ax says he was attacked by a former roommate. He told his story to NBC 10's Brian Crandall Tuesday night.
Not many people can say they've been hit with an ax. Valcenir Lira took a couple of blows to the face and lived to tell his story.
Taunton Police are charging Lira's former roommate, Elson Telles, in the attack. Lira says the two had gotten into a fight last year. The other night he came over here for revenge, Lira says.
Lira says he opened the door of his third-floor apartment after hearing a knock.
“He turned off the light from the outside so I can't see the face of the person. Before I ask who it is, he says it's you I'm looking for and he hit me right here,” says Lira.
Lira says he knew he got hit by something other than a fist, but didn't know what, maybe a hammer.
“I have two choices, run and get hit from behind or try to fight with him. I choose to fight with him. I throw him on the stairs, we fell down, he hit me again,” Lira told NBC 10.
Lira says neighbors called 911 and turned on the light, allowing him to see the attacker. One of the cuts on Lira's face went to the bone, requiring nine stitches; the other took four stitches to patch up.
After all that, Lira has these words for his one-time friend, now in police custody. “I forgive him,” he says.
Advertisement