Suspect to stand trial in NBV stabbing

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
A Westmoreland County detective said the floor of a North Belle Vernon bar looked like “it had been mopped with blood” following a triple stabbing in March.
During a preliminary hearing Monday for Eric D. Cook, 43, of Donora, Detective Randall Gardner said there was so much blood on the floor at Just A Tavern on March 7 that footprints were visible in it.
Cook was ordered to stand trial in Westmoreland County Court on six counts of aggravated assault and three counts each of attempted homicide and attempted simple assault by Magisterial District Judge Charles Christner.
Cook is accused of stabbing Elisa Lenzi, Chris Chambers and James Lookabaugh before fleeing the tavern.
Lenzi, who testified through tears at several points, said she knew Cook from middle and high school, but hadn’t seen him since graduation. Lenzi said she was with her boyfriend, Chambers, and his friend, Lookabaugh, at the tavern, where they stopped for a few drinks after having dinner earlier that night.