$10k Bail in Corner Store Stabbing

BOSTON, Oct. 8, 2015—A West Roxbury man with a six-month jail term hanging over his head was arraigned in his hospital bed today on charges he stabbed two men after being asked to leave a neighborhood grocery store, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

KRISTOPHER SODERBERG (D.O.B. 11/18/76) was arraigned in his hospital bed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on a charge of armed assault with intent to rob and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Christina Kemp, West Roxbury Municipal Court Justice Kathleen Coffey imposed bail of $10,000 and ordered Soderberg to remain alcohol-free subject to random alcohol screening, stay away and have no contact with his victims, and stay away from Familia Grocery in the event he is released on bail.  Soderberg was additionally ordered held without bail pending a hearing on the violation of his suspended sentence. 

Soderberg is currently serving a suspended sentence for unrelated convictions for drunk driving and assault and battery.  At his sentencing in West Roxbury court on both cases one week ago today, Soderberg received a six-month house of correction sentence, suspended for a two-year probationary term.

Boston Police responded to Familia Grocery on Grove Street shortly before 9:30 last night for a report of an armed robbery.  Upon their arrival, officers found an injured Soderberg lying unconscious on the floor and a second man suffering a stab wound to the left bicep.  Soderberg was transported to Beth Israel and the stabbing victim was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Officer learned that a second stabbing victim had been transported by car to Faulkner Hospital prior to the arrival of police; that man was later transported by ambulance to Brigham and Women’s with a stab wound to the upper left chest.

Through the course of their investigation, officers learned that Soderberg had entered the store earlier that evening with a dog and loitered at the location without making a purchase, prompting one victim to order him to leave.  Soderberg allegedly told the victim that he would return.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Soderberg did return, this time with no dog.  Upon entering the store, he allegedly went behind the counter and ran at the victim with an opened folding knife, prosecutors said.  As he did so, he allegedly stated, “Now I’m gonna run with the money.”

The victim then produced a knife to fight off Soderberg and he and another man were able to remove Soderberg from behind the store’s counter.  During a physical altercation, both victims suffered stab wounds and Soderberg was knocked unconscious, prosecutors said.

Soderberg returns to court Nov. 18. He is represented by attorney Jeffrey Karp.

 

–30–

 

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.