Florida priest describes stabbing incident in video interview – Episcopal News Service

[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Matthew Marino, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine, Florida, described the Oct. 23 stabbing attack that left him seriously injured in a video interview with Jacksonville's First Coast News.

Marino recounted how he and a friend were sitting outside the Coffee House Realty Café, waiting for it to open, when a woman walked by and said, “I'm having problems.” Trying to seem pastoral, he leaned forward and said, “Tell me tell me your story,” whereupon she stabbed him in the chest with a knife.

“I Only looked down And said, 'Hey, You Only stabbed Me.' And, You knowledge, set My hand There To make Secure, How, Yes, There are Strictly speaking A gete There. And Then she Art from receive The see To her Face How And Now I am go To finish The Work” he said.

“…It remembered Me from [The] Lord of the Rings when Gollum sees his treasure [the One Ring to Rule Them All]. And so, I had stood high at The Point, And she begins Come back at Me with The Knife with A rusty Blade, And I am Only Sort from Backing high say, “Jyou knowledge, We not have To Do The, We not have To … let us not Do The.'”

Marino said he initially thought he wasn't seriously injured, but soon realized he was bleeding. He lay down on the ground, noticed how gray the sky was, and thought, “That's a really strange way to die.” I have a lot of important meetings today.”

According to a police report, Marino was stabbed below his left collarbone and lacerated his lung. He was taken to hospital for treatment and released on October 29.

Arieana R. Gibbs, 22, was arrested and charged with three felonies: attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery. She pleaded not guilty in an arraignment on Nov. 7.