Press Room stabbing: Newmarket resident charged with assault at Portsmouth bar

PORTSMOUTH — A Press Room patron is charged with a stabbing inside the 48-year-old downtown bar and music venue June 22, police said Tuesday.

Jazmin Diaz Barrientos, 23, of Newmarket, is charged with second degree assault, two counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon and reckless conduct, all Class B felonies. Barrientos was also charged with two counts of simple assault, Class A misdemeanors, and disorderly conduct, which is a Class B misdemeanor, according to police.

Portsmouth police and fire personnel were dispatched to the Daniel Street establishment on Saturday, June 22 at 12:13 a.m. for a reported fight. Police said investigators determined Barrientos had stabbed a victim in the chest with a knife during an altercation.

The victim, whose identity was not released by police, was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said. An arrest warrant was later obtained for Barrientos, police stated.

The alleged dispute only involved the two individuals, according to Portsmouth police Capt. Nicholas Small.

"He was treated and released that night," Small said Tuesday, when asked about the victim's condition.

Barrientos surrendered to a Portsmouth police warrant Monday and was released on personal recognizance bail, police said.

Police are still reviewing the circumstances behind the reported fight and have not determined a motive yet for the alleged stabbing.

"That piece we’re still trying to investigate," Small said.

Barrientos is scheduled to appear in Portsmouth District Court on Monday, Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. It was not immediately known if Barrientos has an attorney.

City police are continuing to investigate the incident. Police ask witnesses to contact Portsmouth officer Nicholas Young at (603) 610-7645 or youngn@portsmouthnhpd.gov.

“Additionally, to anyone who may have video footage of the incident, we are asking for your assistance,” Portsmouth police wrote Tuesday in the arrest announcement.

Anonymous tips about the alleged incident can be made through Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling (603) 431-1199, at seacoastcrimestoppers.com or via the “P3” mobile application. Police said a $1,000 reward may be paid for information leading to an arrest or an indictment.

This story may be updated.