Hammond Man Charged After Violent Altercation at Merrillville Hotel
Merrillville- A Hammond man, identified as 31-year-old Joshua Ojeda-Rivera, has been charged after a violent altercation at the FairBridge Inn in the 8200 block of Louisiana Street resulted in another man being transferred to a hospital in Chicago.
Police were notified early on December 6, 2025, after a stabbing victim arrived at Southlake Methodist Hospital with another man in the vehicle. Hospital staff advised officers that the incident had occurred at the FairBridge Inn in Merrillville. The victim was listed as stable, but due to internal bleeding additional medical services were needed and he was transferred to a hospital in Chicago for further treatment, according to charging documents.
Charging documents state the two men were inside a hotel room when a verbal dispute escalated. The argument reportedly began after the victim jokingly called Ojeda-Rivera a “bitch,” which upset him and led to a physical struggle. During the tussle, the victim said he was stabbed while the two were wrestling on a bed. Charging documents also note the two had been in an intimate relationship for seven years.
According to the affidavit, Ojeda-Rivera initially claimed he found the victim already injured. He later told investigators the two had argued and exchanged blows before the struggle ended. Officers reported that 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. During a search, officers recovered a knife in a sheath and suspected cocaine on his person. Detectives also reviewed hotel surveillance footage, which reportedly showed Ojeda-Rivera and the victim entering a hotel room together and confirmed that Ojeda-Rivera was inside the room at the time the stabbing occurred.
Additional witnesses inside the hotel room told investigators they observed a fight between the two men and stated Ojeda-Rivera stabbed the victim during the altercation.
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
