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Kan. man faces amended charge after stabbing of undercover informant

Venancio VigilL Jr.
Venancio VigilL Jr.

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested on Aug. 31 after he allegedly stabbed another man during a confrontation in Hutchinson was bound over for trial Wednesday on an amended count of attempted murder.

The state had originally charged 40-year-old Venancio Vigil Jr. with aggravated battery, but after testimony from the victim, the state asked to amend the charge to attempted first-degree murder with an alternate count of aggravated battery.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder says he amended the complaint because he believes the stabbing was retaliation for a case in southwest Kansas.

The victim was apparently working undercover for law enforcement and had informed on someone with a group called the Texas Syndicate.

Vigil was allegedly a part of that group and told the victim he was going to kill him because of what he did.

He then began stabbing the victim and jumped through a window to escape.

Reno County EMS transported the victim Francisco Gracia Jr. to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He underwent emergency surgery and was then transferred to a Wichita hospital for further treatment and a five-day stay in the ICU.

Vigil remains jailed on a $50,000 bond and his case will move to arraignment next month.

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