ASHEVILLE, NC — A person was hospitalized after an early morning stabbing at an Asheville apartment complex, and police say a 56-year-old man is now facing a felony assault charge.
Officers with the Asheville Police Department were sent to the South French Broad Avenue complex at about 5:07 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found a victim inside an apartment with a chest laceration.
Paramedics took the injured person to the hospital. Police said the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Police response began just after daybreak on South French Broad Avenue
The call brought officers to an apartment complex in Asheville before sunrise, according to police. The incident happened on South French Broad Avenue, a corridor that runs through a busy part of the city.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led up to the stabbing or what was happening inside the apartment before officers arrived. They also have not said whether anyone else was present when the victim was found.
For now, the department’s account centers on the rapid response: officers reached the scene, located the injured person, and arranged medical care within minutes of the reported time.
Victim suffered a chest wound but injuries were not considered life-threatening
Police said the victim had a laceration to the chest when officers entered the apartment. Chest injuries can be serious, which is why the person was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Even so, investigators said the wounds were non-life-threatening. That detail suggests the person was expected to survive, though police did not provide an update on the victim’s condition after the hospital transport.
No name, age, or other identifying information about the victim was released. Asheville police have not described the relationship, if any, between the victim and the man arrested.
Ronald Guy Whiteside booked into detention center and denied bond
Police identified the suspect as 56-year-old Ronald Guy Whiteside. He was arrested in connection with the stabbing and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
After his arrest, Whiteside was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. Jail records indicated that he was denied bond.
The charge reflects the seriousness of the injuries police say were caused during the incident. At this stage, investigators have not said what weapon was used or described the events that led to the arrest.
Detectives have not said what started the confrontation
Police have not released a motive or explained what caused the confrontation inside the apartment. They also have not said whether the case began as a domestic dispute, an argument between acquaintances, or another type of conflict.
That information is typically left to investigators as they interview witnesses, gather physical evidence, and review what happened before the 5:07 a.m. response. Asheville police are still asking anyone with information to contact the department.
Until investigators provide more, the basic outline of the case remains the same: a person was stabbed inside an apartment, taken to the hospital, and a man was arrested and jailed on a serious assault charge.
What the arrest means as the case moves through Buncombe County
With Whiteside in custody, the case is now in the early stages of the criminal process. The denial of bond means he will remain jailed unless that status changes through the court system.
The charge is a criminal allegation, not a final finding of guilt. Prosecutors will decide how to proceed as the case moves forward in Buncombe County.
Anyone with information about the stabbing can contact the Asheville Police Department, which is still collecting details about the incident and the circumstances that led to the arrest.
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