Neighbors lament fatal stabbing

Kneeling over his body, her hands pressed against the wound, Leslie Raines never got to say goodbye to her friend.

When police arrived at the intersection of Delphine Avenue and Seventh Street they found Eduardo Javier Herrera, of Waynesboro, collapsed on the sidewalk and bleeding heavily from a stab wound, police said.

The man, known to friends as “Piku,” was 38 years old, police said.

Authorities had not made an arrest as of Monday night but said they’re seeking four Hispanic males driving a primer-black Ford Taurus.

Walker said police believe the four suspects may have gang affiliations but it is unclear whether the attack was gang-related.

Herrera’s stabbing marked the second sting of death in a chain of violent crimes so far this year for tenants of North Commerce Avenue. In May, John Kelley Miller, 44, of 260 N. Commerce Ave., was found dead in the South River.

Herrera, a Puerto Rican immigrant attacked at the same location last year, was stabbed at least once in the chest in the alley behind the apartment complex just after 9 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Wounded, he ran less than a block and fell to the sidewalk, prompting multiple 911 calls, police said.

Raines said Herrera lived only a few doors away. Her sons considered him a brother, she said.

“I haven’t been to sleep at all,” she said. “He was an outgoing person and he liked to joke with everybody.”

In 2008, Waynesboro police arrested David Sanchez, 21; Isaias Rojas, 23; and Jose Sanchez-Aregin, 22, all of Waynesboro, on felony malicious wounding and armed robbery charges. They were convicted of beating Herrera with a baseball bat and stealing his money and beer. Each served about seven months in jail, pleaded guilty, and was released on time served.

Police said they are investigating the possibility that some of the individuals involved with the 2008 attack might also be involved in the stabbing.

Shaun Reynolds, a tenant at the complex, said he approached Herrera’s body before rescuers arrived. His eyes were open and unblinking, Reynolds said.

The familiar reds and blues of police cruiser lights illuminated Reynolds’ face.

“It’s not even been a month since the last s—- happened on North Commerce,” he said, livid.

Sgt. Kelly Walker, spokesman for Waynesboro police, said his department has made specific efforts to eliminate drugs, littering, public drunkenness and other “quality-of-life” crimes.

“260 is obviously a public safety issue,” Walker said. “We’ve tried to take steps to step up enforcement.”

Walker said one of the biggest problems for the apartments along the street comes when unwanted “hangers about” show up.

Authorities said they hope to work with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the landlord, Bobby Jardine, to obtain more tools to handle the problems non-tenants create.

“Really, the tenants have got to want to participate,” Walker said. “That’s a key to solving any issues over there.”

Earlier this month, representatives with the police department, Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth, Second Presbyterian Church and Jardine met to chart a plan for improvement along North Commerce Avenue, Walker said.

“It was basically, ‘What can we pull together to try to make a positive impact on this community?’ ” he said. “Several ideas came out of that.”

Diane Kellogg, of the Office on Youth, said the group hopes to provide resources and ideas for neighborhood improvement.

“It’s not about us coming in and changing everything,” she said. “It’s the people who live there that make the change.”

In a May report by The News Virginian, councilman-elect Mike Harris encouraged tenants to get in touch with their city council representative, Mayor Tim Williams.

“If that fails, then I’m available.” Harris said in May. “And it should happen on their turf. They should not necessarily have to come to City Hall.”

Police this year have responded to calls at 260 N. Commerce Ave. more than 150 times, according to department records. In 2009, police responded to the apartment building almost 300 times, records show.

In the meantime, Walker said officers send patrol cars down the street multiple times a day. Police also employ daily foot patrols of the area.

Standing with her son, Matthew Welcher, 9, Raines recalled pleasant memories with Herrera. She said her boys had trouble sleeping after the
stabbing.

“I was trying to sleep,” Matthew whimpered. “But I kept seeing his eyes.”

The boy cried softly into his mother’s sleeve.

“It’s okay,” Raines said, kissing her son’s forehead. “You want to go get a soft drink? We can get Piku’s favorite kind. Remember what that is?”

“Dr. Pepper,” Matthew said, wiping tears.