February stabbings in Northampton result in seven-to- nine years prison sentence

Gaifill F. Ruiz , 43, of New York City, was sentenced by Judge Richard Carey in Hampshire Superior Court yesterday,  Jan. 10, 2012,  to a seven-to- nine year state prison term followed by five years of probation.

Ruiz pleaded  guilty to charges in connection with  the  Feb. 21, 2011 stabbing of  two men at a 34 New South St. apartment  in downtown Northampton.

Ruiz went to the apartment where his girlfriend was living just after 4 a.m. on that day  and began banging loudly on the door for over an hour, waking residents and raising concern among neighbors.   He ultimately broke down the apartment's back door, and when he was confronted by two young men  who were awake inside --  his girlfriend’s son and the son’s friend  --   wielded a knife and stabbed both men.

Both were treated at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Ruiz fled into the snowy night, and was apprehended on Main Street after officers saw him hide a knife behind shrubbery near a doughnut shop.

Ruiz's trial commenced on Monday. A jury was selected, opening statements were presented, and a view of the scene was conducted, before Ruiz decided to enter his guilty plea on Tuesday.

"These attacks were traumatic, for the family immediately affected, and also for all the residents in the apartment building,” said Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Carrie Russell, who prosecuted the case.

On behalf of the victims, the witnesses, and the downtown Northampton community, we are pleased that Judge Carey held Ruiz accountable for the severity of his crimes, and sentenced him accordingly," Russell said.