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Background: News footage of the YMCA location in San Antonio, Texas, where a man was allegedly attacked on Feb. 19 (KENS). Insets (left to right): Abel Ali Rivas and Melanie Sierra Gomez (Bexar County Sheriff”s Office).
A Texas man faces accusations of stabbing another individual, allegedly under the influence of the victim’s former girlfriend.
Abel Ali Rivas, aged 27, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the alleged attack on Oscar Javier Barbosa, a 32-year-old man. Rivas’ arrest took place approximately a month after 31-year-old Melanie Sierra Gomez was taken into custody. Gomez, who faces similar charges, was apprehended just days after the incident with Barbosa on February 19.
As detailed in an affidavit accessed by CBS affiliate KENS, Barbosa and Gomez share two children, though their relationship had ended. On the day of the incident, Barbosa was collecting their children from a YMCA facility in San Antonio when Rivas allegedly attacked him with a knife.
The San Antonio Express-News provided further details, revealing that Rivas was also romantically linked to Gomez in the past. The affidavit, cited by both news organizations, suggests Gomez played a role in drawing Barbosa out of the YMCA during a scheduled custody exchange on the evening of February 19. Barbosa informed authorities he had been in phone contact with Gomez that evening. Upon reaching the YMCA around 6:30 p.m., Gomez initially instructed him to enter the building to retrieve the children, only to later direct him to return outside.
The affidavit also mentions that during this period, Barbosa made a call to his current girlfriend.
Police said that when Barbosa came outside the YMCA, Rivas was waiting there for him and said, “What’s up?” Soon after that, Gomez approached, and she and Rivas initiated a verbal altercation with Barbosa, who was still on the phone with his current girlfriend. Investigators spoke to the girlfriend who was on the other end of Barbosa’s call, and she told them she heard Barbosa say, “Are you going to stab me over this?” before the call was disconnected.
The girlfriend told police that she recognized Rivas’ voice because she previously had a 10-year relationship with him.
According to the affidavit, Gomez accused Barbosa of getting his new girlfriend pregnant, then allegedly told Rivas to “go… do what you are going to do.” Rivas then allegedly stabbed Barbosa several times in the abdomen and arms, causing serious but not life-threatening injuries. At the same time, police said, Gomez pinned Barbosa against a car so he could not escape.
Police said that after the alleged attack, Rivas fled in Barbosa’s car, which had been running since he pulled into the parking lot to get his children. Gomez reportedly stayed for a few moments, getting in a few more insults about Barbosa’s current girlfriend before leaving the scene herself.
Barbosa was brought to a hospital and treated for serious injuries. He was able to identify Gomez and Rivas as his alleged attackers.
Gomez was arrested a few days after the alleged attack and was released from the Bexar County Jail after posting $85,000 bond. Rivas remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail where he is being held on a total of $105,000 bond, $100,000 for the aggravated assault charge and $5,000 for a charge of possession of a controlled substance.