An 18-year-old from Arcola, Samuel Garcia, is facing serious legal charges after a violent incident that unfolded on a Sunday evening. Accused of stabbing four individuals, Garcia has been charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

The Urbana Police Department reported that the altercation took place outside a residence at the intersection of Hunter and Lierman in Urbana, around 5:45 p.m. Responding to multiple emergency calls about a large fight, officers arrived to find the aftermath of the alleged attack.

During Garcia’s arraignment on Tuesday at the Champaign County Courthouse, Assistant State’s Attorney William Cole presented startling new information about the case. He revealed that one of the victims claimed Garcia’s anger was sparked by the presence of his child’s mother with her ex-boyfriend at the home. This ex-boyfriend was among those injured in the attack.

Further details emerged as Cole described threatening text messages sent by Garcia to another victim prior to the incident. This victim recounted seeing Garcia pass by in a white sedan before returning, exiting his vehicle, and allegedly initiating the stabbing spree.

Cole said another victim got threatening text messages from Garcia before he arrived. That same victim said he saw Garcia drive by once in a white sedan, before returning and getting out of his car, according to Cole. The assistant state’s attorney also said that the victim said the suspect “just started stabbing.”

Garcia was later found by officers in the same white sedan, according to Cole.

“They noted his hands were covered in blood,” said Cole. “He was found to have several one inch cuts on the inside of his right pointer finger. The officers noted that these injuries are common with stabbings, for the knife to slip on the inside of his hand. Based on the officers’ training experience, believed that this is how the defendant seemed to sustain this particular injury.”

Officers said later, when Garcia was taken to the hospital for his own injuries, family members and friends of victims were waiting outside of the hospital.

Police said as Garcia was being walked in, he was charged at by another man with a knife. Police later identified the man as 32-year-old Sergio Molinero. A patrol officer stopped Molinero, but sustained a minor injury, according to the Urbana Police Department. 

Molinero was arraigned Tuesday as well. He was only charged with resisting a peace officer and released. He has a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 16.

Garcia faces up to 30 years for his charges of attempted murder. He has a pre-trial detention hearing Wednesday morning.