Around 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, Casper Police responded to a hotel located at the 400 block of West F Street for a report of a stabbing.
Initial reports claimed an adult male had been stabbed multiple times outside of the hotel by an unknown individual who fled the scene. First responders immediately arrived at the scene and transported the victim to the hospital where the victim underwent emergency surgery and remains in critical condition.
Officers immediately flooded the area to search for the suspect and investigate the incident. Within two hours of the assault taking place, officers had located and arrested the suspect, 55-year-old Woodrow Neal, a homeless male with no apparent ties to the Casper area. Neal was booked into jail on one felony charge of aggravated assault and battery and one misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.
The victim and the suspect were not known to each other. The assault appears to have taken place due to a confrontation occurring between the two individuals, in which the victim accused the suspect of following his girlfriend.
“This case highlights the tireless dedication of the men and women who wear the Casper Police Department badge,” said Deputy Chief of Police Shane Chaney. “Had it not been for the quick thinking, investigative training, and sheer determination of these officers to get a violent offender off the street, this suspect may not have been located. Our citizens should be proud of the level of professionalism displayed here to not only find the suspect but bring justice to the victim in this case.”
This case remains under active investigation by the Casper Police Department. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
The Casper Police Department would like to thank the multiple agencies that assisted in this case including Wyoming Medical Center, Casper-Natrona County Public Safety Communications Center, Casper Fire-EMS, and the Casper Police Department Victim Services Unit.
The Casper Police Department is dedicated to the protection and safety of our community through the highest standards of professionalism in police services.