FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (WTVR) - Police responded to reports of a possible stabbing and found two injured men outside one of the rooms at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel and Conference Center in the 2800 block of Plank Rd. on Sunday.
Both men were bleeding severely from head wounds and one of the victims was unconscious.
A witness reported that he and his friends, including the two victims, were standing outside talking when they were approached by another male they didn’t know.
The unknown man had a glass jar in his hand that reportedly contained homemade moonshine.
When CBS 6 asked longtime Fredericksburg resident Aaron Mays if moonshine is prevalent in the area, he said no.
"I’ve never heard of anybody whose actually made moonshine," Mays said.
Police said an argument broke out, and the unknown man struck both victims in the head with the jar and fled from the scene.
Mays told CBS 6 the Hospitality House is a nice hotel.
"People are always nice. You would never expect to hear about any trouble there," Mays said.
The victims were both transported to Mary Washington Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
The general manager of a 24-hour IHOP located across the street from the hotel confirmed to CBS6 the people involved in the incident ate at the restaurant without incident before heading toward the hotel.
Witnesses provided a description of the assailant and a short time later an officer located the suspect walking on Commerce Street.
Warren Hovermale, 35, of Chesterfield was arrested and charged with two counts of malicious wounding.
Hovermale was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.
Still, the incident leaves the Fredericksburg community shaken.
"I’ve been gone for so long…that’s a really shocking thing to hear…the first thing when I move back to the hometown I grew up in that somebody was attacked right down the street," Fredericksburg native Chris Baker said.
