A Hammond man, 31-year-old Joshua Ojeda-Rivera, faces multiple felony charges after a violent altercation at the FairBridge Inn on Louisiana Street left another man hospitalized in Chicago.
Police were notified early on December 6, 2025, when a stabbing victim arrived at Southlake Methodist Hospital with Ojeda-Rivera in the vehicle. Hospital staff reported that the incident occurred at the Merrillville hotel. The victim, listed as stable, suffered internal bleeding and was transferred to a Chicago hospital for further treatment, according to charging documents.
The affidavit states that the two men were inside a hotel room when a verbal dispute escalated. The argument began after the victim jokingly called Ojeda-Rivera a “bitch,” which led to a physical struggle. During the tussle, the victim said he was stabbed while wrestling on the bed. The documents also note that the men had been in an intimate relationship for seven years.
Ojeda-Rivera initially told investigators he found the victim already injured. He later admitted that the two had argued and exchanged blows before the stabbing occurred. The victim eventually returned to the vehicle and asked Ojeda-Rivera to accompany him to the hospital.
Police took Ojeda-Rivera into custody at the hospital. Officers recovered a knife in a sheath and suspected cocaine on his person. Hotel surveillance footage reportedly confirmed that Ojeda-Rivera and the victim entered the room together and that Ojeda-Rivera was present during the stabbing.
Additional witnesses inside the hotel room told investigators they saw the fight and confirmed that Ojeda-Rivera stabbed the victim during the altercation.
Ojeda-Rivera is currently lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed December 6, 2025:
-
Domestic Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony
-
Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury — Level 5 Felony
-
Domestic Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury — Level 6 Felony