Stabbing Suspect Appears in Court, New Details Released

A University of Wyoming student accused of stabbing a classmate late Friday appeared in Circuit Court Monday morning.

Masheri Aldhafeeri, 32, is charged with one felony count of aggravated assault -- bodily injury with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Judge Robert Castor set Aldhafeeri's bond at $15,000 cash and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 9.

Laramie Police Lieutenant Gwen Smith says Aldhafeeri allegedly stabbed a University of Wyoming student during a fight in the Turtle Rock Coffee & Cafe parking lot Friday night. Smith says Aldhafeeri and the victim knew each other beforehand, but the cause of the fight remains unclear.

"The officers are still working on gathering some evidence, and that's part of what they're trying to confirm," said Smith.

The victim's name and condition have not been released.

Smith says police officers and a Laramie Fire Department ambulance responded to the 200 block of North 8th Street at 11:08 p.m. Friday after the victim called 911 to report he had been assaulted and stabbed. Court documents say the victim told the responding officers that Aldhafeeri stabbed him.

According to the affidavit, the victim was taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital with stab wounds on his left shoulder and under his left armpit. Police continued to interview both the victim and Aldhafeeri, who was reportedly also at the hospital.

Police say Aldhafeeri was injured, but did not have any stab wounds. The affidavit says Aldhafeeri first told police that he fell down the stairs, but later said he had been in a fight.

The victim reportedly fought back when he was stabbed.

According to court documents, police recovered a steak knife, with the blade broken from the handle. The affidavit says police recovered both pieces, and the blade had "fluffy material on it that seemed to match the victim's coat."

Police say Aldhafeeri admitted to getting the knife out of his car before approaching the victim.