Man accused of North End knife attack says group jumped him

BOSTON — A man armed with a knife and wearing a bullet proof vest made a scene in one of the most popular spots in Boston over the weekend.

The suspect pulled out a knife Sunday in the North End. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.

Steven Lacolla, 26, was steps away from his Cooper Street home when Boston police say he attacked a group of people while wearing a bullet proof vest.

In court Monday, police said Lacolla charged toward a group of people on Salem Street holding a large butcher knife.

It happened around 3 a.m. Sunday and when police moved to intervene, officers say Lacolla confronted them.

Investigators say there was a tense exchange before Lacolla put down the knives and surrendered to officers.

But Lacolla and his girlfriend said a group of men actually jumped him.

"He grabbed one [knife] from the house because it was only him and there was a bunch of other guys," Lacolla's girlfriend, Ashley Timmons, said.

Police say they were only able to get statements from two of the witnesses in the group because they reportedly fear retaliation by Lacolla.

"He's a good person. He's a very good person. That's why I'm with him," Timmons said. "He's a very good boyfriend. He's a good person. He was defending himself."

Lacolla's father works in the same court his son was arraigned in and didn't want to speak on camera.

Cox Media Group