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Milwaukee man charged in MATC stabbing

By Michelle Richards and Jay Sorgi

CREATED Sep. 17, 2012

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  • MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Police say that a man who is an MATC student has been arrested after allegedly stabbing another student on the MATC downtown campus. Police say the victim, a woman, is in critical condition.

  • The stabbing happened around 8:25 a.m. Wednesday on the 3rd floor of what MATC describes as the "main building" of the campus, near the intersection of North 7th and West State Street.

  • The victim was stabbed several times. The 24-year-old victim is in critical condition at Froedtert Hospital.

  • Police initially said that the stabbing appeared to be connected to a domestic incident.

  • "This wasn't random," said Milwaukee Police Lt. Ray Gibbs. He also explained that there were several witnesses to the stabbing.

  • "The students should be assured that this campus is safe and secure. This was an isolated incident between two students who knew each other. Our public safety team responded immediately to the situation....classes are continuing," said Dr. Michael Burke, the President of MATC.

  • Students were notified about the incident by e-mail.

    "There was no notification by the PA system through the school to let us know what was going on. There was no classroom lockdown," said student Jared Schweiner.

MILWAUKEE - A man from Milwaukee faces charges including attempted murder after a stabbing on MATC's campus in downtown Milwaukee. 

Ruben Casarez, Jr., 24, has been charged with attempted homicide, first degree reckless injury, a violation of a domestic abuse injunction and bail jumping in a domestic abuse case after the stabbing of his ex-girlfriend Irene Johnson last Wednesday.

With sentencing enhancers, he could face up to 100 or more years in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Casarez stabbed her multiple times with a butcher knife while inside an office.

Johnson started screaming, and two men kicked in the door and tackled Casarez.

She told police, according to the complaint, that Casarez "went crazy."

Johnson is still recovering.

Casarez said in the complaint he had recently been released from jail and had contacted Johnson several times, and Johnson told him she had a new boyfriend.

The complaint also states that Casarez was under a restraining order to not have contact with Johnson.