UPDATE: Suspect in North Adams Walmart Stabbing Turns Himself In

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Updated on 02042025 at 1 p.m. — A suspect in a stabbing at Walmart on Monday has turned himself in to police.

Interim Police Chief Mark Bailey reported that Roland Hernandez, 41, of Pittsfield, surrendered to the North Adams Police Department on Feb. 3, 2025, around 9 p.m. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and was brought to Northern Berkshire District Court the following morning at approximately 10 a.m.

The incident occurred on Monday, Feb. 3, around 4 p.m. when officers responded to a fight at the department store and found a victim with stab wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

Following the incident, police issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts, warning officers that the suspect may have been armed with a knife. A second individual who left the scene on foot was also sought, though their involvement remains unclear.

A witness reported seeing the victim covered in blood from an apparent wound to the chest or abdomen while being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS.

Images posted to Facebook but since deleted show a white man with a mohawk hairdo with no shirt on and wearing only green pants and shoes outside the store. He's holding his hand below his neck and has blood dripping down his chest and covering his pants. He's carrying what appears to be a shirt and a coat or jacket. He's standing and walking around. 

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in a stabbing at Walmart this afternoon. 
 
Officers responded to a fight at the department store around 4 p.m. on Monday and found the victim, who was taken to the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by ambulance. 
 
Police are currently seeking a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts that left the scene. A BOLO was posted at 4:55 p.m. by Berkshire County dispatch to all units apprising them to use caution.
 
"The party may be in possession of a knife. ... stop and hold and contact North Adams Police Department," according to the post. 
 
Police were also looking earlier for another person who left the area on foot, but it's not clear if this individual was involved. 
 
A witness driving by the scene at Walmart said someone was covered with blood from an apparent wound to their chest or abdomen and was being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS. 

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Ex-Veterans Clerk Ordered to Pay Restitution, Complete Community Service

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's former veterans services administrative assistant, Tina Samson, was ordered to pay $2,184.76 in restitution and complete 700 hours of community service.

Samson, 66, was charged with a single count of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme for using gift cards donated to Veterans Services for personal use, the Berkshire Eagle originally reported on Oct. 13.

Her larceny case was continued without a finding on Friday, Oct. 19. Samson must pay the restitution and complete her community service by October 2028.

Samson was arraigned in July on larceny charges related to the theft of gift cards donated for local veterans. She pleaded not guilty.

City officials became suspicious when they learned that Samson had been stopped in Walmart for allegedly trying to shoplift about $200 worth of merchandise. According to the police report, Samson told store management she worked in Veterans Services and was taking items to support them. Walmart trespassed her from the property but did not press charges.

City officials noticed discrepancies in accounting for gift cards donated to or purchased for the Veterans Services Office and contacted Walmart Asset Protection about four e-gift cards totaling $575 mailed to Samson's city account last year.

The cards were loaded into Samson's personal Walmart account, according to the police, and used for clothing, groceries, and cash. In one instance, clothing ordered online was shipped to Samson's home address.

A police investigation was launched Jan. 13 into the Veterans Services Office, where Samson had worked for 12 years before retiring in December, and a search warrant was issued for the Walmart account connected to her personal email.

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