UPDATE: Suspect in North Adams Walmart Stabbing Turns Himself In

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Updated on 02042025 at 1 p.m. — A suspect in a stabbing at Walmart on Monday has turned himself in to police.

Interim Police Chief Mark Bailey reported that Roland Hernandez, 41, of Pittsfield, surrendered to the North Adams Police Department on Feb. 3, 2025, around 9 p.m. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and was brought to Northern Berkshire District Court the following morning at approximately 10 a.m.

The incident occurred on Monday, Feb. 3, around 4 p.m. when officers responded to a fight at the department store and found a victim with stab wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

Following the incident, police issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts, warning officers that the suspect may have been armed with a knife. A second individual who left the scene on foot was also sought, though their involvement remains unclear.

A witness reported seeing the victim covered in blood from an apparent wound to the chest or abdomen while being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS.

Images posted to Facebook but since deleted show a white man with a mohawk hairdo with no shirt on and wearing only green pants and shoes outside the store. He's holding his hand below his neck and has blood dripping down his chest and covering his pants. He's carrying what appears to be a shirt and a coat or jacket. He's standing and walking around. 

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in a stabbing at Walmart this afternoon. 
 
Officers responded to a fight at the department store around 4 p.m. on Monday and found the victim, who was taken to the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by ambulance. 
 
Police are currently seeking a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts that left the scene. A BOLO was posted at 4:55 p.m. by Berkshire County dispatch to all units apprising them to use caution.
 
"The party may be in possession of a knife. ... stop and hold and contact North Adams Police Department," according to the post. 
 
Police were also looking earlier for another person who left the area on foot, but it's not clear if this individual was involved. 
 
A witness driving by the scene at Walmart said someone was covered with blood from an apparent wound to their chest or abdomen and was being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS. 

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North Adams Airport Sets Deadline For Cell Tower Project

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission set a November deadline for Diamond Communications last week, accepting a contract extension on installing a cell tower through Nov. 25.

After that date, the commission wants some form of compensation.

This initial extension was built into the original contract, and commissioners had no objection to honoring it. However, Diamond's second request for a nine-month extension gave the board pause.

The airport accepted a bid from Diamond in 2024 to install a cellular tower on the airport campus. Diamond offered a $30,000-a-year lease with a scheduled 2.5 percent annual increase. Terms also included a $100,000 bonus and a percentage of the tower's gross revenue if it becomes fully leased out.

Shirin Everett of KP Law, who helped negotiate the original agreement for the airport, called into the meeting. She confirmed the project is on hold because Verizon, which plans to utilize the tower, has yet to commit money toward it. Everett said understands Verizon has potentially budgeted for the project in 2027.

This means that at the very earliest, Verizon might make a decision in mid-2027. Following a standard due diligence period, the airport likely would not begin receiving rent payments until 2028. Everett added that telecommunications projects are experiencing delays nationwide.

The situation did not sit well with Airport Commissioner William Hooper.

"Verizon is not ready to pull the trigger for Diamond, so they are at risk of not having their primary subtenant ready to go," Hooper said. "So my concern is, does Diamond have a real commitment to be able to do this?"

He added that Diamond currently has no financial commitment to the city, making him hesitant to hold potentially valuable land for them without receiving anything in return.

"I would hate to be reserving the rights of Diamond for a square inch of the airport if we don't have real commitment from them," Hooper said. "As I read the agreement, I don't like where I feel we are at the moment."

Everett stated that come Nov. 25, the city could grant another extension — this time accompanied by a request for compensation. She emphasized that Diamond is not entitled to anything beyond Nov. 25, though she noted that in prior conversations, Diamond was not open to providing substantial compensation.

If Diamond and the city simply allow the contract to expire, Diamond remains responsible for paying the city's legal fees, according to Everett. Furthermore, if Diamond eventually completes the process with the city, they must pay an automatic $100,000 to the airport.

Everett added that if the city decides to reopen the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, they would likely still be waiting until at least 2028.

"These leases, for whatever reason, are taking months and months ... it is really between a rock and a hard place," she said. "You can stay with the devil you know and hope it comes through, or we can choose someone else."

In related news regarding land use at the airport, the commission expressed interest in exploring the possibility of installing solar panels.

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