Man wrongly charged in downtown Raleigh stabbing seeks support after assault

The man wrongly charged in a downtown Raleigh stabbing last month was attacked by more than a dozen bar-goers after he raised concerns about a toddler out with the group past midnight, according to new details described on a GoFundMe page.

Frank Lalich Jr., 35, was held in Wake County custody for about four days in April after Raleigh police charged him with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon for a reported stabbing outside Anchor Bar on Fayetteville Street that left five others injured, The News & Observer previously reported.

But Wake County prosecutors threw out the charges against Lalich after security footage later indicated he’d actually been defending himself, showing Lalich being “sucker-punched” and kicked while on the ground, they said.

But Lalich has since faced a “difficult journey” in rebuilding his life, according to a GoFundMe page posted on Lalich’s behalf by his life partner, Aaron Feinberg, as he’s had to confront mounting medical and legal expenses on top of his recovery.

“Every day is a step towards recovery, but the financial burden makes it even harder for Frank to focus on healing and rebuilding his life after such a traumatic experience,” Feinberg wrote.

‘A couple minutes but it felt like a lifetime’

The fundraiser page detailed the moments leading to the altercation, when Lalich noticed a child around the age of 3 and “expressed displeasure” at the child being out at the bar past midnight. The group “took offense” to the comment and sucker-punched Lalich, a moment Feinberg described as the worst in his life.

Lalich was then “beaten, kicked, stomped and stabbed,” the post said, defending himself with a pocketknife he’d been carrying. Feinberg found police nearby, and the group fled the scene when authorities arrived, according to the post.

“The whole ordeal only lasted a couple minutes but it felt like a lifetime,” Feinberg wrote.

Wake County prosecutors cited “insufficient evidence” in dismissing the charges against Lalich last month. But nearly a month after the assault, it’s unclear if other arrests have been made in the case.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The N&O last month that charges were pending against four individuals involved in the fight, but declined to comment further on the case. The N&O has contacted Freeman for an update in the case.

Lalich’s injuries left him “bleeding and hanging on for dear life,” the GoFundMe post stated. He was rushed into surgery where doctors worked to reconnect the artery in his left arm and underwent another surgery to reconnect his nerves and tendons.

Lalich also suffered a concussion, a popped eardrum, a scratched cornea and scrapes and bruises from the fight, the post said. He’s still in “immense pain” and is unable to use his left arm for the forseeable future.

Now, Feinberg is asking the local community for help, as the pair confronts a growing list of medical and legal expenses following the assault. As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe for Lalich’s recovery had collected just over half its $10,000 goal after just 48 hours.

“Anything you can give goes a long way to helping Frank and me recover from this traumatic experience,” Feinberg wrote in the post. “Frank is very thankful to have an understanding employer, fantastic medical care, two wonderful pups, loving family, and close friends at this time.”

Faith Wardwell

The News & Observer