Man booked with attempted murder after beating another man with a hammer, fracturing facial bones and causing other injuries

A man has been booked with attempted murder after beating another man with a hammer, fracturing facial bones and causing other injuries, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Jose Vasquez-Matute, 33, who refused to give an address after his arrest, was booked with attempted murder and flight from an officer after his arrest in Arabi in the early morning hours of Aug. 14, the sheriff said.

Vasquez-Matute beat Vincente Lopez, 17, of Chalmette, in an incident that occurred just before 3 a.m. on the street in the 7500 block of West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi.

The victim was taken to LSU Medical Center in New Orleans for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The arrested subject declined to make a statement about the cause of the incident.

When the beating was taken place, a St. Bernard Parish resident who witnessed it interceded and helped stop the attack before sheriff’s deputies arrived, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Vasquez-Matute fled on foot but sheriff’s deputies caught him in an alley within a short period of time, the sheriff said. The arrested suspect dropped the hammer as he fled but it was recovered as evidence. His clothing was stained with blood when he was arrested.

Vasquez-Matute is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $201,000.